It’s fair to say Gabriel Jesus’s goals have slowed down at Arsenal.
The £45 million hitman enjoyed a furious start to life in North London following a transfer from Manchester City this past summer, scoring five goals in pretty quick succession.
But the Brazil international is now nine games without scoring for Arsenal.
His last came in the North London derby victory over Tottenham Hotspur on October 1, but at least one Arsenal-owned number nine is flourishing.
The Gunners loaned out Folarin Balogun during the summer and he is seriously tearing it up in Ligue 1.
The Reims loanee scored again in his most recent outing to make it eight goals in 14 league appearances for the French outfit [Transfermarkt].
Balogun might not get the same headlines as a Bukayo Saka in terms of exciting Arsenal-made products.
But the Hale End academy graduate is proving himself an excellent goalscorer in a difficult league.
Of course, Ligue 1 isn’t as tricky to negotiate as, say, the Premier League, but Kylian Mbappe has only netted three more than him this season.
That right there illustrates that Balogun is at least keeping pace with genuine world-class strikers and it’ll be fascinating to see him under Mikel Arteta next term.
The loan system works, as proven by William Saliba this time around and don’t be surprised if Balogun is the 2023-24 equivalent of the big Gunners’ defender.
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