With Arsenal so far exceeding expectations this season, it's no surprise that much of the attention has been on Mikel Arteta and his current set of players. However, one loanee, in particular, was eager to gain his own spotlight away from north London.
It's been a challenging couple of years for Folarin Balogun, who has struggled to stamp down a place in the Gunners' first-team squad despite signing a new four-year deal in 2021. It had become clear that the forward was ready to take the next step up from academy level, but with others ahead of him in the pecking order, that was always going to prove difficult to achieve at Arsenal.
A much-needed loan move to Championship side Middlesbrough last season probably didn't work out as well as Balogun would have liked it to, ending the 2021/22 campaign with just three goals to his name across 21 appearances. As they often say though, experiencing difficult moments only makes you stronger, and Balogun is certainly proving that to be true.
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The 21-year-old was in desperate need of some confidence and a club where he could feel at home, somewhere he could become the star man. A switch to Ligue 1 in France was initially viewed as a risk by some, which is understandable considering there aren't many young talents from England willing to go down a similar route. Nevertheless, Balogun and Arsenal agreed on another loan move, this time to Stade Reims and they haven't looked back since.
Balogun is currently the Ligue 1 top scorer with 15 goals, that's five more than Lionel Messi (10) and two more than Kylian Mbappe (13). His performances haven't gone unnoticed either, with both Thierry Henry and most recently Arteta expressing their delight over his progress, although it would appear they aren't the only ones who have been impressed.
As it is so often the case when a player does well, speculation has increased over Balogun's future in recent weeks, with AC Milan, Marseille and Villarreal reportedly showing interest. Whilst a return to Arsenal and subsequent William Saliba-esque breakthrough cannot be ruled out just yet, Balogun will find himself battling it out with Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah for a starting spot.
Although that would be a welcome boost to Arsenal's attacking options ahead of a potential return to the Champions League, it may not be a scenario that attracts Balogun, who is likely to want a guarantee of regular game time. In addition to the uncertainty surrounding his future at club level, the Hale End star also has a decision to make over his national team, too.
Balogun 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. The New York City-born striker has previously played for the U.S. Under-18s and is also eligible for Nigeria through family roots.
Speaking to L’Equipe in October last year, Balogun said that he would consider all three countries for his international career and also confirmed he is keeping an open mind regarding his Arsenal future.
"Just like my future at club level, I am not closing any doors regarding international selection," Balogun explained. "All options remain open. Above everything, I feel English, but I also have an American side, because I have family in New York and I love going there. I have my grandmother and cousins in Lagos, even if I haven’t been there since I was very young. My mother sometimes speaks to me in Yoruba and it is important to me," he added.
Balogun may be coy for the time being, but fans in America are doing their bit to convince him to choose the USMNT over anyone else. Several comments under his latest posts on Twitter include emojis of the United States flag, as well as pleas for him to make the switch back to U.S. colours ahead of the 2026 World Cup.
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