‘Just incredible’: Mikel Arteta claims Arsenal have a player who is ‘very rare’
The manager of Arsenal, Mikel Arteta, has praised Folarin Balogun on the club’s official website and is impressed with how well the forward is performing on loan at Reims.
In the summer of 2022, Balogun joined Reims on loan from Premier League club Arsenal.
This season, the 21-year-old forward has been phenomenal for Reims in Ligue 1 play.
In 21 Ligue 1 games this season, the England Under-21 international has scored 14 goals and provided one assist.
Balogun has scored more goals in the French Premier League than Alexandre Lacazette (a former Arsenal player) and Kylian Mbappe of Paris Saint-Germain.
Arteta said about Balogun: “I’m so happy for him. He’s a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career.
“He’s really ambitious, really committed and really brave. We discussed a lot before he made that move whether it was the right place to go and the other choices he had.
“He was so convinced. I’m really happy for him because he deserves what he’s getting.”
The Arsenal boss added: “I am very pleased and when you look at the numbers and what he is doing it’s just incredible. It’s very rare to see that.
“But he’s got something special, that’s why we decided to give him a long-term contract and have faith in him and give him the long period that he needs now, because the one (loan) he is having now is really different to the one he had before at Middlesbrough.
“But that one was very necessary to see the outcome of what he is having now.”
From our perspective, it is thrilling and uplifting for Arsenal supporters to see Folarin Balogun perform so admirably in Ligue 1.
It is important to remember that the young English striker is only 21 years of age.
Furthermore, he is already surpassing the goal scoring records of Mbappé, a world-renowned football player.
This is quite an achievement.
At present, Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah are Arsenal’s primary forwards.
Balogun will provide Arsenal’s manager, Mikel Arteta, with another outstanding attacking option for next season.
‘Just incredible’: Mikel Arteta claims Arsenal have a player who is ‘very rare’
