Mikel Arteta's stance on the development of on-loan Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is clear after the 21-year-old netted a hat-trick in Reims' 4-2 win over Lorient on Wednesday night to become Ligue 1's top goalscorer.
The Gunners star helped Reims recover from a two-goal deficit at the Stade Auguste-Delaune II, scoring his 12th, 13th, and 14th goals of the league campaign to overtake the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi and Neymar in the division's goalscoring charts.
Reims manager Will Still was full of praise for Balogun after his last-gasp equaliser against PSG at the weekend: “He is a super complete striker, he is able to play with his back to goal, in depth,” said Still. “It is technically very clean. He scores, he is decisive.”
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Having previously developed a reputation as one of academy football's most prolific attackers, USA-born Balogun made his Arsenal debut in a 2020 Europa League clash against Dundalk before scoring his first goal for the club just a month later.
Whilst he subsequently penned a long-term contract until 2025 at the Emirates Stadium and made his Premier League debut in 2021, Balogun struggled to impact proceedings at the top level and he was sent out on loan to Championship outfit Middlesbrough in January of last year but would score just three goals on Teesside.
He has since gone on to massively impress in France at Reims under the stewardship of boss Will Still. The prospect of Balogun returning to North London now appears an enticing one and Arteta signalled to reporters back in 2021 that he plans for the academy graduate to play a significant part for Arsenal in years to come.
The Spaniard said: “We have been extremely impressed with Flo this season.
"He has continually shown his natural ability in many training sessions with us and we have been equally impressed with his early integration into the first-team squad on matchdays. He has given us glimpses of the performances and of course his two goals already for the first team.
"The hard work starts here for Flo and we are all looking forward to supporting and working with him in the years to come.”
Balogun, too, has already reaped the rewards of a temporary move away from his boyhood team, expanding on the benefits of his stint in France during an interview with L'Equipe.
"Arsenal is my family. For me, the club represents brotherhood and unity,” Balogun explained. "There, I learned always to push my limits. I remember from training the permanent desire to progress on a technical level.
"I think by the time I go back I’ll be in a better place to compete than I was before I left. I realised there were certain things I would struggle with, but I think that’s a good thing. It helps you to manage stuff you’re uncomfortable with which is important.”
Supporters were, also, left to enjoy events after he netted an injury-time equaliser in Reims 1-1 draw against PSG. Balogun was seen chatting with Gunners icon Thierry Henry prior to kick-off and paid homage to the Frenchman by emulating Henry's iconic celebrations after finding the net.
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