The USMNT's newest star Folarin Balogun will represent Arsenal in the MLS All-Star Skills Challenge as he takes on a select group of opponents from Wayne Rooney's team.
The 22-year-old forward will be hoping to impress manager Mikel Arteta during pre-season following his exploits while out on loan at Ligue 1 club Stade de Reims last season. The New York-born prospect faces stern competition for a place in the Gunners' team, with Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli likely blocking his path to action but his 22 strikes over the course of the previous term do certainly earmark him as an intriguing proposition.
Clearly, the Arsenal academy graduate is a player with bags of potential but it remains to be seen whether he can establish himself as a first-team option in the coming months. The youngster will have his chance to stake a claim for minutes in the upcoming campaign with his involvement against an ensemble cast of MLS stars in a clash versus the league's All-Stars on July 18, however.
The team will consist of the US league's best players, with a roster of 26 stars having been picked to face last year's Premier League runners up. In all, 12 players were picked by coach Rooney, with the same number having been given the nod after a vote by fans, the media, and players before MLS commissioner Don Garber rounded off proceedings with two more additions.
Aside from the regular game which will take place between the two teams, the opponents will also face off in the unique All-Star Skills Challenge with six players from each team taking part in a series of activities. The best of MLS will face a select group of Gunners stars across five separate challenges at Audi Field in Washington D.C.
USMNT ace Balogun is among those picked to represent Arteta's team in this fun spectacle, with his teammates for the series of exercises set to include new signings Kai Havertz, alongside captain Martin Odegaard and forward Eddie Nketiah. They will face MLS stars Thiago Almada, Riqui Puig and Luciano Acosta as they take on tasks including a Crossbar Challenge and a Passing Challenge.
The last few months have been eventful for the attacking prodigy after he put to bed speculation over his international future after pledging allegiance to the country of his birth, snubbing interest from England and Nigeria. Despite previously turning out for the Young Lions at U-21s level, he made his debut for the USMNT in a fierce clash with Mexico before netting his maiden goal for the nation versus Canada in the CONCACAF Nations League final.
The rosters for the All-Star Skills Challenge are subject to change and it still could well be that Balogun eventually departs the Emirates Stadium this summer, with his future at Arsenal currently in doubt. After breaking his duck for his country versus Canada earlier this summer, the youngster was resolute in his desire to not go out on loan again.
Addressing speculation in regards to a potential move away from his boyhood team, he previously said that he is still unsure about where he will ply his trade next season, explaining: "I'm not sure [about] the discussions that are going to take place.
"I'm not sure what's going to happen but I'm just committed to now; I try to stay present. I obviously want to enjoy the moment with my team and my family. What I can say is that I definitely won't go on loan again."
