‘I’m asking him questions’: Arsenal talent Folarin Balogun lifts the lid on Thierry Henry advice

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Arsenal loanee Falorin Balogun has lifted the lid on the advice he has received from Thierry Henry.

The 19-year-old striker, who is turning heads at Reims with his eye for goal told the Athletic that he has been in conversation with the French legend, who is widely considered as the club’s greatest ever player.

Now, Falorin Balogun has revealed what Arsenal legend Thierry Henry has told him to do.

Arsenal loanee Falorin Balogun reveals Thierry Henry advice

The Hale End talent is the joint-second highest goalscorer in Ligue 1 currently, which goes to show why Mikel Arteta told the official club website that he was an ‘incredible’ striker.

Falorin Balogun, who has Arsenal fans rubbing their hands at the possibility of him returning to the Emirates Stadium opened up on his chats with Thierry Henry.

“I saw him a few times at the Emirates when I was at Arsenal but it was just passing conversations,” the striker says. “The first time I spoke to him in depth was against PSG. Funnily enough, he messaged me words of encouragement before the Monaco game, I scored the winner and then we messaged after the game”, he said.

Folarin Balogun continued to expand upon what Arsenal icon Thierry Henry has told him to keep in mind, saying, “It’s nice to get to know him on a more personal level. I’m asking him questions and he’s helping me. It’s nothing seriously in-depth. It’s more akin to conversations between somebody who’s seen the heights of the game and taken steps in his career that I’m now taking in terms of playing in England and playing abroad. It’s light-hearted but allows me to take some good advice from him.”

“From what I’ve gathered about Thierry’s character, he takes a lot of accountability for what happened in his life. It’s the same advice he gives to me. He says you’re here for a reason and it’s up to you. Whether you grab the opportunity or not is another question but you have to prove why you’re here.”

“He’s big on accountability and that has definitely helped me this season. There have been moments where I’ve taken accountability and gotten the only goals in some games. It’s just about being a leader and a focal point throughout my career.”