Arsenal will be in the market for a couple of strikers this summer, but Folarin Balogun is trying to show Edu and that he can make a big impact next season.
With Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang gone and both Alexander Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah out of contract this summer, Mikel Arteta’s striking options are in flux.
In January, Arsenal decided to send Balogun out on loan to the Championship, giving him valuable experience at Middlesbrough.
Balogun has only started one Premier League game for Arsenal and was simply too good for Premier League 2 action.
Caught in between, it was time for Balogun to go out and play first-team action against men rather than boys.
Middlesbrough won the race, securing Balogun until the summer. So far, Balogun hasn’t actually scored a goal for Chris Wilder’s side.
On Saturday, Balogun was given his first league start for Boro as they hosted Derby County – and he took his chance to shine.
Boro were already 3-1 up when Balogun enjoyed his crowning moment, anticipating hesitant defending perfectly.
Balogun picked the pocket of Lee Buchanan inside his own penalty area before producing a nonchalant backheel flick to find Duncan Watmore.
With the goal caping, Watmore found the net and secured a thumping 4-1 win for Boro, who sit in the Championship playoff places.
Balogun’s superb skill can be seen at 1:43 with Sky Sports providing highlights from the Riverside Stadium.
There is a real chance that Balogun ends up playing a key role in Boro’s push for promotion, which gives Arsenal the kind of competition they were seeking for Balogun’s loan move.
Hopefully the goals will start flowing for Balogun soon, but this imaginative and skillful assist just goes to show the kind of talent Balogun possesses.
With any luck, Arsenal fans will be seeing this kind of quality in a different red and white shirt next season.
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