Folarin Balogun is flourishing on loan at Reims after taking his chance to leave Arsenal for regular game time.
The French club had lost Hugo Ekitike to PSG and signed Folarin to replace the striker, a piece of business that has proven inspirational.
Balogun broke into the Arsenal team as one of its finest academy graduates and they fought to keep him when he ran down his previous deal.
The youngster has been on loan away in the last year and he has kicked on at Reims.
The French club is open to keeping him on their team beyond this term, however, Arsenal has to decide on his future.
A report on Sport Witness reveals the Gunners want him to stay at Reims for another season to continue his progress, but they haven’t made that official to his loan club.
Reims wants to be sure that will be the case before they pursue their interest in other players.
Just Arsenal Opinion
Balogun will struggle to play for us if he returns at the end of this season which makes it ideal for us to allow him to remain in France.
The youngster has been one of our finest loanees this season and he will develop even further if he stays in familiar territory for the next campaign.
That’s a no brainer, the kid should be allowed to continue his development.
Unlike Guendouzi and others, he’s on a long term contract so his value is protected.
If the squad were the same, Jesus and Nketiah as strikers, I’m not sure he would struggle to break into it – it depends on his level of performance.
The question is: would he be happy being “the new Eddie”.
Another plan of Mikel the magician working wonders. Privileged indeed to have Mikel as our manager. Unlike Guendozi, this lad has a good attitude and will do him good to pay heed to one our finest midfield players and now one of our finest managers (going by the stats of his 150 games ).
He should continue his development in France but move to a club that plays in Europe so as to have dicersified experience.
Let’s see how he finishes the season. He’s doing better than Eddie (at present) and his movement and involvement is different to Eddie’s. The opposition he’s facing in France is similar to to what Eddie’s facing in the Europa. I’ve been watching every game he plays this season and he’s really doing well.