Videos: Arsenal starlet once again shows why he needs a loan move in January
Folarin Balogun named PL2 player of the month
Five goals in three games, including a hat-trick against Derby County, was enough to see Folarin Balogun named as PL2 player of the month for November.
# …
@balogun
Congratulations, Folarin! https://t.co/Cusmdjiw5K
— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) December 13, 2021
In doing so, he set a new record as the highest scorer in PL2 history too, having now scored 35 goals in 56 appearances, including 13 goals in 11 appearances this campaign.
The 20-year-old made his professional debut for the Gunners on the opening day of the season during Arsenal’s COVID-19 crisis, playing as a striker in their 2-0 defeat to Brentford, and has appeared once more in the EFL Cup, coming off the bench in their 3-0 win over AFC Wimbledon.
Clearly, his scoring record suggests that he is in need of a step up in level of opponent, but there is more.
Balogun toying with the opposition
Now, in a set of videos posted by Balogun himself on social media, the English starlet can be seen toying with his opposition time and time again, something that we have seen often this season.
Good result yesterday! pic.twitter.com/65ffg1bDtJ
— Balogun (@balogun) December 13, 2021
pic.twitter.com/4InXve8b82
— Balogun (@balogun) December 13, 2021
pic.twitter.com/Fh3wjFcujY
— Balogun (@balogun) December 13, 2021
This suggests that he needs a tougher test, and that he has outgrown the U23s, something that was apparent to many by the end of last season. Per Mertesacker, Arsenal’s head of development, has already suggested that Balogun could go on loan in January, and it is a loan move that the youngster desperately needs in order to take the next step in career.
The question is, what level is right for him, and can he help solve Arsenal’s upcoming striker crisis?
