Folarin Balogun found himself in a rather unfamiliar situation on Saturday as his penalty was saved in Reims' 0-0 draw with Nice. The Arsenal loanee became Ligue 1 top scorer last week after bagging his 15th goal of the season, but his miss from the spot means Kylian Mbappe and Jonathan David are now level.
Nevertheless, it has been an incredible campaign for the 21-year-old so far, and a rare miss won't change that. In fact, if Balogun has proven anything in recent months, it's his ability to learn and subsequently bounce back from difficult moments as he continues to do now.
The last year or so has certainly been far from a breeze for Balogun, who struggled to stamp down a place in the Arsenal first-team and endured a tough loan spell at Middlesbrough where he scored just three goals in 21 appearances last season, however, he remained determined to prove a point.
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There was an acceptance that Balogun was ready to take the step up from academy level, all he needed was some confidence and a club where he could feel at home, somewhere he could become the star man. Balogun and Arsenal believed that Stade Reims was the perfect destination to fulfil those requirements, and it's safe to say neither of them have looked back since.
As the forward makes a name for himself in France, interest from several European clubs has unsurprisingly emerged. AC Milan, Marseille and Villarreal are reportedly monitoring him, casting some doubt over his Arsenal future. Whilst a William Saliba-esque breakthrough cannot be ruled out, high-flying Balogun will find himself going up against Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah for a starting spot.
Although it would be a welcome boost to Arsenal's attacking options ahead of a potential return to the Champions League, it's unlikely to be a scenario that attracts Balogun, who will no doubt want guarantees over regular game time following a successful season.
Despite all of the speculation, former Arsenal defender Mikael Silvestre believes Balogun can still have an important role to play under Mikel Arteta. Speaking to bettingexpert, the Frenchman claimed that Balogun has what it takes to compete with the current competition in attack and will shine if given the opportunity.
"Balogun can come back to Arsenal and shine at the club. I'm sure of it. I've seen enough this year in Ligue 1," Silvestre said. "I know the Premier League is one step higher but he's (one of) the leading goalscorers in Ligue 1 and it's not an accident. He's reading things well and getting better and better. I think he has a future at Arsenal and could be competing with Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Jesus. If Arsenal want to be competing for trophies, one more striker would be a good luxury. Next season I would keep him."
In addition to the uncertainty surrounding his future at club level, Balogun also has a decision to make over his national team, too. The Hale End product is representing England at Under-21 level but is yet to receive a call up to the Three Lions' senior team, meaning the U.S. Soccer Federation still has a chance to recruit him just as they did with his former Arsenal teammate Yunus Musah. Born in New York City, Balogun has previously played for the U.S. Under-18s and is also eligible for Nigeria through family roots.
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