Benik Afobe has encouraged Folarin Balogun to leave Arsenal on the Beautiful Game Podcast.
Balogun has stalled over signing a new Arsenal contract, despite Mikel Arteta wanting to keep him.
There are now concerns that the youngster could decide to leave the Emirates Stadium on a free transfer at the end of the season.
And Afobe feels that Balogun would be making a good choice for his career if he was to leave Arsenal.
“The striker you just mentioned there, Balogun, he’s good. I’ve seen him play,” he said.
“I think it’s the right decision for him to leave. The captain is a number nine, the other number nine is top goalscorer this season in Lacazette, and Eddie Nketiah is a couple of years older than him and he has also done well.
“If you keep waiting for your chance before you know it you’re 23, and managers will start picking up players who are more experienced in the Championship, who have 100 appearances to their name – instead of the guy from Arsenal who played for England under-19’s, and that’s kind of what’s happened to me.”
Afobe may well feel that leaving Arsenal would be the best choice for Balogun, but supporters for the North London club are likely to be hugely disappointed if the 19-year-old does depart.
Balogun has been a regular scorer for Arsenal in their youth ranks, and has even earned some first-team appearances this season.
Balogun is already a scorer at senior level, but it does seem hard to see when his next chance is coming.
With Gabriel Martinelli fully fit and Alexandre Lacazette hitting form, Balogun has struggled to even make Arsenal’s bench in recent weeks, which may have put him off signing a new deal.
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