Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has praised the club’s technical director Edu for convincing Folarin Balogun to stay, as quoted on Sky Sports.
Balogun is out of contract at Arsenal at the end of the season, but, according to Sky Sports, the 19-year-old will sign a new deal and extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium.
The teenage striker has yet to make an appearance in the Premier League, but the 19-year-old has scored two goals and provided one assist in five substitute appearances in the Europa Leagues far this season, according to WhoScored.
Arsenal boss Arteta has praised the club’s technical director Edu and academy manager Per Mertesacker for convincing Balogun to stay.
Arteta told Sky Sports about Balogun: “In all aspects, he knows that we trust him and that we want to have a future together. Then, we needed to link that with the people at the club, with the right support from Per and the academy, and with the work that Edu has done over the months to undo what was happening and the direction the situation was taking. He has completely turned that over into a position where now the player is going to stay with us.”
Big future ahead
Arteta’s comments suggest that Arsenal rate Balogun highly, and that the striker will get chances in the first team, perhaps next season.
The England Under-20 international is still very young and is learning his trade, and it could take him a few years to become the finished article.
Arteta seems to have a lot of faith in Balogun, and signing a new contract and staying at Arsenal and working with the Spaniard would be a good decision.
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