As the club considers his future, Arsenal youngster Folarin Balogun has dropped a cryptic message on Twitter.
He spent the last season on loan at Reims and did well, which should ideally earn him a place in Mikel Arteta’s squad.
However, that might not be the case, with several clubs chasing his signature and Arsenal doubting if he is good enough for their first team.
Balogun has ruled out going on loan again and the club now has to decide between giving him an important first-team role or selling him.
As the Gunners work on other deals, the striker still does not know where his future lies, but he posted a cryptic message on social media which got fans thinking.
The USA International posted: “It is time!”
Just Arsenal Opinion
Although Balogun did well while on loan in France, the youngster is still not good enough for our first team.
Scoring goals for fun in France does not mean he will do the same in England and we all remember how Nicolas Pepe thrived there before becoming a flop at the Emirates.
If a suitor comes up with a good offer for his signature, we should allow Balogun to leave the club.
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First of all Pepe was never a flop at Arsenal. He had some great moments and showed great potential. I still believe he should have been given more chances. Secondly why should we sell an academy player who has had a great season on loan. At least we should give him the opportunity to show if he can succeed.
He won’t sign a new contract, and wants a starting role, so we have to sell.
Given that, plus his market value has never been higher – it’s a no brainer. I just hope we can get a good price for a sale for once.
What is wrong if a player demand for starting role?
He has confidence in his own abilities, that is why he is demanding for a starting role.
Give him the starting role and drop him if he fail to perform to expectations.
The same way Martinez demanded for a starting and we sold him off for peanut and ended up spending over 30m to acquare Ramsdale who is not in Amy way better than Martinez.
21 goals 22/23 for Balogun; 27 goals for Lacazette. How many goals did Laca scored for Arsenal the last season at Emirates? Two? Plus some pens. He wasn’t good enough for EPL. Would Balogun be good enough? And would Mbappe be good enough (29 goals)? How good, or how bad, is Ligue 1?
Firstly Pepe actually did quite well until the relationship broke down with MA as with many other players.
Secondly why only use Pepes example, why not mention Salibas time in France and how he did in the EPL? Oh because it doesn’t fit your rhetoric
Balogun did everything we asked from him and did it well. What more could he have done? Strange how we have an academy for a reason and we need a striker but oh well.
Wish him the best and I hope he gets a move to a good club and gets his shot. Ill always support our academy players until they get a proper shot at least.
Good comment, hard to disagree. Wonder what you thought about the statement “not good enough for our first team” in the article?
I found the statement interesting, considering how minimal Nketiah has been for almost 5 years, yet got a 100k a week extension.
Anyone know where Balogun himself said he expects to be a starting striker at Arsenal? I’ve only seen him quoted as saying he won’t go on loan again. Well said I say, why be behind Nketiah who is minimal?
I believe Balogun feels he has earned a chance in the 1st team, and thinks he can be productive, never seem him say he expects to be in starting 11.
Lastly, reminds me of another young Arsenal loanee who felt he was ready after proving something on loan in France. I think that loanee actually did very well when given a chance, can’t recall his name though; Taliba, Waliba, it’s on the tip of my tongue.
Seriously though, give him a chance what have we got to lose, besides a striker that actually scores. Almost like we’re scared to upgrade on Nketiah, or heaven forbid Jesus has to earn his spot.
Honestly not convinced Jesus can beat out Trossard. Interesting to see an open competition and fair judging, let the most productive be 1st choice.
Totally agree that Trossard seems to be getting the short end of the stick… Definitely deserves to start more
Balogun should be given a little chance to proved himself as a striker, he even proved it in Europe league. Let Ateta give him the chance to play in EPL okay.
So Balogan wants to be guaranteed a starting position in the team or want to be included in the squad?
If he is asking for a starting place in the first team then who do we drop for him? Jesus? Matinelli? Saka? Odegaard? Which player in that first team do we have to break the bad news to that “Sorry mate, we have to drop you, can’t guarantee you first team football because Balogun has demanded we do so?”.
This reminds me of the Martinez vs Leno. Martinez demanded first team football or he wanted to quit. The manager had to make a decision as Leno had been our first team keeper at that time.
We only have 11 starting places. If everyone want to be first choice then there’s a problem. Can’t please everyone at the same time.
You making up stories in your head mate. Not wanting to go on loan and being assured the club at least has a plan for you is VERY different to demanding to be a starter.
How you equate the 2 is beyond the realm of logic.
So does Balogan just wants to be included in the sqaud and not demanding a starting spot in the team?
It seems like you have the inside info on the whole situation. So what does he want? Because if he just wanted to be included in the first team squad but not guaranteed a starting place then that is understandable. But from all the rumours, gossip and tabloid talk I have been reading since April they are saying that Balogun is demanding assurance as a first team starter and no going on another loan.
You are saying he just wants to be promised game time while the media has been and continues to claim he is demanding a guaranteed starting place or he should be allowed to him.
Even recently on here “JustArsenal” an article was written saying exactly the same, that he is demanding first team football or he is off..
Who to believe?
And I am sympathetic to the boy. It’s his career and he should be looking out for what is in his best interest. But reality at Arsenal right now is that he will not be guaranteed a starting place at the moment just because he demands it.
Goonster
Fair questions you raise, I would ask why you would believe a media rife with inaccuracies rather than the player?
What has Balogun said?
Only that he won’t go on loan again is all I have seen from him. Absolutely nothing regarding a demand to be a starter.
The question is why the narrative from the media about this unfounded “demand?” I’ve searched and found no quote as proof from Balogun about this.
I actually like the confidence, ambition, and hunger from a player. It’s one of the things I like about Saliba for example.
I liked reading where ESR said he wants to fight for a spot too, Turner hungry to push Ramsdale, Tierney speaking with Arteta this Summer as well.
Our squad needs this, not content passengers like Elneny, Holding, Nketiah, who are content to ride the bench. Would you rather have players speaking about getting chances or quiet church mice content to collect wages on the bench?
Good for Balogun and Saliba for speaking out, that’s what we need, fire in the belly and hungry to play. We won’t win titles or trophies with quiet church mice, content with their places.
So then if he is refusing to go on another loan and is not mentioning staying to fight for his place then what is the other option.
Tavares said he want stay and fight for his place. ESR said he wanted to stay and fight for his place etc. Nketiah did the same. When people were saying that Arteta hated Martinelli between 2020 / 2021 he said he will stay to fight for his place. Nelson has said that he wants to stay and fight for a place and will go on loan if it means it helps him improve.
I am not saying that Balogan does not have a right to speak his mind. What I will ask you yourself is:
How come be is refusing to extend his contract?
He has said he won’t go for another loan.
But then has not said what he would like to do instead. Is he going to fight for his place or he is indirectly saying what the majority of people are interpreting as a “Threat to leave if not guaranteed a starting spot in the team?”.
Just asking..
You can’t stay and fight for a place that has a zero rotation policy. And even if you do get a chance and you do well if you not a favourite you’ll soon find your way back to the bench regardless!
Why do you think Saliba was so hesitant to come back after his loan spell, because he knows this is true as well. Luckily for him BW got pushed to RB.
You can say whatever you want, everyone knows if you aren’t in the starting 11/12 you’ll barely see the pitch barring a injury. This little line of “not willing to fight for their place” is getting a bit boring, can’t keep hiding behind that!
How much game time did Eddie get when Jesus was fit? Now imagine Balogun would be behind Eddie so he’d get zero. How can you fight for your place with maybe 5 mins every 6th game? Checkmate 😀
So then again, tell me what is the other option?
You are clearly doing double talk here without even realising it. Just read through what you have just written on this exact comment I am replying to and tell me that you are not agreeing with what I am insinuating all along.
So Balogun knows that Arteta has his favourites and won’t be making him our first choice ahead of Jesus and Nketiah? And he know that Arteta does not rotate outside his favourites etc, so is that why he has taken this stance of “I am not going to accept another loan, I am not going to refuse to extend my contract, I am not going to stay and fight for my place as I think I deserve to be first choice ahead of Jesus, Nketiah and Trossard etc..
so again I will ask you once again, What is his other option? What should any logical / rational person supposed to interpret such talk or non talk? Stop skirting around my question.
I will flimsy Syllogism here:
1st Premise: A player says he is not going to extend their contract.
2nd Premise: He has rejected going on another loan.
3rd Premise: He is not indicating that he will want to stay and fight for his place in the squad.
4th Premise: He is not suggesting what he wants. Not putting forward any other option that would keep him as a player at that club.
CONCLUSION: He is indirectly threatening to leave if not given assurance / guarantee a starting place.
Saliba did all that without directly saying he was threatening to leave. And nearly all of us read it as him threatening to leave. Eveb right now without him having signed a new contract people are concluding that he might be leaving.
So once again. Balogun has taken all the other viable option off the table. So what is a logical person supposed to interpret his stance right now? Can’t tell me that he is open to being Gunnersaurus, one of the Grounds men etc. Surely he is clearly saying without promise of a first team place he is going to push for a move, No?
🤷♂️
Balogun said he won’t go on loan, and has left the US national team and missed Jamaica game to return to Arsenal.
Does a player wanting to leave do this?
Or does a player wanting a place in the first team do this?
He never said he expects to be a starter, he never said he wants to be sold and move away.
Jesus got guaranteed he’s a striker not played on the wing, we’ve seen Jesus quoted on that and influenced his move.
Balogun likely has not extended contract because the club has not told him their plans or a pathway in the 1st team.
Only a Muppet extends in ignorance. If he is given opportunities to play and eventually compete maybe he will sign.
Behind the scenes we don’t know, but I trust the players comments MUCH more than the snakes in the media.
@Durand
One point of order.
Balogun was in the USA squad for the CONCACAF Nations League games (semifinal and Final, but the coach picked a new squad of MLS players for 2023 CONCACAF Gold Cup, which started against Jamaica….
Fair point admin,
However the reason I read was because many European players were returning to preseason camp with their clubs, with only a few not returning.
Not sure if their return was the reason for B team or if it was already decided to field the B team.
I found an article from Fox Sports and Football London, but neither had any details or spoke with USA’s new coach.
Interesting fact though, did read in Fox Sports article (June 9th) Balogun said he didn’t expect to start with USA, and Turner said the same about Balogun. Flo said he needed to build chemistry, and likely it’s the same stance he has towards Arsenal.
Thought it worth mentioning as the media seems self-convinced he is demanding to start.
We’ve had a lot of great players that played in the French League like Saliba, Koscielny, Henry etc
“It is time!” ………. To show Arsenal, what I can do in pre season.
Give Balogun a chance in the summer, see what he’s got then decide between him & Eddie but Ediie had had his chances and maybe needs a season long loan at a lower club to play consistently week in and week out to improve. Flo did it so why can’t he?
Jesus, Havertz & Smithrowe all can play on the wings to fill on for Martinelli & Saka along with Ode in the attacking mid role for the latter 2 mentioned.
Partey has 2 years left on his deal, cash in next summer as he has that quality we need heading into the Champions league. Rice will take Xhakas role I feel not the CDM role….
Exciting all this spending and we are not used to it so let the club spend what they want and enjoy the process of Arsenal where we all always wanted it to be & its down to Stan Kroenke tbh.
Josh wasn’t lying when he said they basically just took full control right when Covid hit so now they are making up for that the last few windows. Hats off to them long may it continue 👏