Folarin Balogun has had a dream start to life on loan in Ligue 1. The Arsenal striker moved on loan to Reims last month, and the 21-year-old has scored five goals in seven league appearances in France's top flight.
Balogun spent the second half of last season on loan at Middlesbrough in the Championship, where he scored three times in 18 games, but instead of searching for another English loan, Balogun made the brave decision to go abroad.
It's becoming an increasingly popular path for young Premier League players, with Chelsea's Callum Hudson-Odoi joining Bayer Leverkusen on loan, and Jarrad Branthwaite of Everton joining PSV Eindhoven for the season.
So far, the England Under-21s international's decision has paid off, with the striker among the top scorers in Ligue 1. If he continues to score at the rate he has so far, then Mikel Arteta may consider him part of his first-team plans when he returns to London at the end of the season.
Arsenal legend Thierry Henry believes Balogun's game is improving in France, and that his willingness to join a European club on loan highlights his 'refreshing mindset'.
“Normally players are loaned either to another Premier League side or in the Championship," Henry told Prime Video Sport France. "He’s a very English-style player who likes to run down the channels but he was missing something, which was his finishing.
“He’s now starting to score goals regularly and I’m happy for that – happy he has gone abroad. It’s especially so considering he is a Londoner, in general Londoners struggle to leave London.
“When I heard he was coming to France, it made me think he has a refreshing mindset.”
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