Alan Hutton believes Folarin Balogun will attempt to make the first team at Arsenal when he returns from his loan spell at Reims.
The youngster has exploded at the French club as he scores regularly for them and is now a coveted player on Arsenal’s books.
The Gunners probably did not expect him to spring into life as he has done in France and now have to make a plan for his future.
One thing for sure is that Balogun will not accept a place on the bench again at the Emirates when he returns to the club and might ask to leave.
Before then, Hutton believes he will want to show what he can do at the Emirates. Asked if he expects the striker to fight for a place, he tells Football Insider:
“Absolutely.
“This is what it is all about going out on loan when you are young, to go and improve and that is exactly what he has done.
“Now everybody is sitting up and taking notice of what he has done, so that is a box ticked and is exactly what he wanted.”
Just Arsenal Opinion
Balogun has proven to be a superb striker and definitely deserves a chance to play often next season.
If we do not have space for him in the squad, we must consider offloading him and making room for others to keep helping the team.
Has this sessions campaign finished? Therefore, .let this season in which Arsenal is seriously contesting to win the Epl title finish first.
After which Arteta’s coached Arsenal will decide on what they’ll do with Balogun. But I normally, he should participate in the next Arsenal’s preseason games to integrate with the rest of his team mates. And also makes serious efforts during the preseason to convinced Arteta he has in him the right top quality striking as a force who can be reckoned with to compete for a starting role as Arsenal’s regular lead striker when next season begun.
Has this season’s campaign finished? Therefore, .let this season in which Arsenal is seriously contesting to win the Epl title finish first.
After which Arteta’s coached Arsenal will decide on what they’ll do with Balogun. But normally, he should participate in the next Arsenal’s preseason games to integrate with the rest of his team mates. And also makes serious efforts during the preseason to convince Arteta he has in him the right top quality striking as a force who can be reckoned with to compete for a starting role as Arsenal’s regular lead striker when next season begun.
Arsenal must have a fire sale this summer and get a tidy some for our fringe players.
Nuno Tavares, Lonkango, Balogun etc, time we learn to recoup some losses from the market.
Why? Fringe players are required for the squad, to be available from the bench or to cover for injuries and for rotation. Saliba is injured so Holding plays, Jesus can’t do a whole game at present so Trossard plays, Zinchenko is out so Tierney plays. The players you did mention are on loan and contrary to some reports are all doing well, particularly Flo, so why get rid?
Holding, Tierney and even Nelson are okay and the players on loan are all decent players.
But Arsenal has to start acting like a big club, they are a lot of young players out there with staggeringly high ceilings, we need to target them in some cases buy and loaned straight back to the selling club.
Please note I don’t take pleasure in criticizing our players , but some of our fringe players would find easier opportunities at other clubs.
Tavares and Lokonga sure as they won’t have much of an impact given their lack of involvement before going on loan but Balogun has to be given a chance. If we sell him for a big price and he has an even better season it will be terrible considering we do need a better backup striker than nketiah. Balogun can even play on the wings so his versality will be a plus.