Folarin Balogun has prompted more questions over his future at Arsenal after making it clear he wants to be playing regular first-team football, whether with the Gunners or elsewhere.
The 20-year-old started up front in Arsenal’s opening game of the Premier League season against Brentford and then came off the bench against Chelsea a week later, but has not made the squad for a league match since then.
He was also an unused substitute in the Carabao Cup fourth-round victory over Leeds United, while he was handed just a seven-minute cameo on the wing against Wimbledon in the previous round.
Despite being offered first-team assurances by Mikel Arteta before signing his new contract, Balogun has largely been limited to games for Arsenal’s Under-23 development side.
Even though the youngster has played little senior football in his career so far, he was selected for England’s Under-21 side and gave an excellent display against the Czech Republic, netting his first goal for the Young Lions.
Under-21 boss Lee Carsley said afterwards that Balogun had outgrown youth football and now the forward himself has delivered a similar message, saying he needs regular game time and would look to leave Arsenal on loan if Arteta cannot find more minutes for him.
‘I have played youth football for a little while, I have obviously scored a lot of goals at that level and improved at that level drastically from when I started,’ Balogun told reporters.
‘I do feel like I am ready for a new challenge but I am not sure what that might be, it might be a loan or if I am needed at Arsenal then I am here and the gaffer knows that.
‘I am definitely open to a new challenge but it is something that whatever that challenge is I will be ready.
‘I know the potential I could have and that I need to achieve is massive. I haven’t achieved it yet. What I see now I would just describe as glimpses, things that need to be worked on and can be improved.
‘The performances I am putting in are all I can do at the moment. I know that I am going in the right direction.’
He added: ‘This time last year Emile [Smith Rowe] was playing 23s football, so that just shows how quickly things can change in football.
‘I know that I need to be patient and I have complete faith in the gaffer. Whatever the plan is I will give 100 per cent and I know it will work out.’
MORE : ‘It was frustrating’ – Martin Odegaard reacts to Arsenal teammate Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang denying him goal vs Watford
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
var notifyQ = function () { var i = 0, l = awaitingReady.length; for (i = 0; i < l; i++) { awaitingReady[i](); } }; var ready = function (cb) { if (fbApiInit) { cb(); } else { awaitingReady.push(cb); } }; var checkLoaded = function () { return fbApiInit; }; window.fbAsyncInit = function () { FB.init({ appId: '176908729004638', xfbml: true, version: 'v2.10' }); fbApiInit = true; notifyQ(); }; return { 'ready' : ready, 'loaded' : checkLoaded }; })(); (function () { function injectFBSDK() { if ( window.fbApi && window.fbApi.loaded() ) return; var d = document, s="script", id = 'facebook-jssdk'; var js, fjs = d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0]; if (d.getElementById(id)) { return; } js = d.createElement(s); js.id = id; js.async = true; js.src = "https://connect.facebook.net/en_US/sdk.js"; fjs.parentNode.insertBefore(js, fjs); } if ('object' === typeof metro) { window.addEventListener('metro:scroll', injectFBSDK, {once: true}); } else { window.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', injectFBSDK, {once: true}); } })();
For all the latest Sports News Click Here
For the latest news and updates, follow us on Google News.
