Mikel Arteta has moved to praise young Arsenal hitman Folarin Balogun for his performance last night.
The Gunners marched into the last 32 of the Europa League as Group B winners with a 4-2 win away to Dundalk in Dublin.
And it was Balogun who added Arsenal’s fourth of the night, coming off the bench on the hour mark to score with 10 minutes left.
In doing so, the 19-year-old now has two goals in just 61 minutes of Europa League football, following his senior debut in the reverse fixture back in October.
The North Londoners have a number of very exciting young talents in their ranks.
But Arteta has told the club’s official website that every single minute of Balogun’s Arsenal career so far has been simply superb.
He said: “He’s done really well. Every minute he’s been on that field he’s been superb and today he looked a threat again. He scored a goal and set up another one, and he looked really lively and mature on the pitch.”
It’s important Arsenal get this lad signed up to a new deal as soon as possible.
Balogun is out of contract at the Emirates Stadium in six months and the higher his stock rises, the more interest there’ll be in January.
It’d be a big shame if they lost a talent like this but Arteta is certainly doing the right thing in giving him game time – but is it too late?
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