Folarin Balogun

On-loan Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is currently the top scorer in Ligue 1 with Stade de Reims; the 21-year-old scored a hat-trick against Lorient on ...

"You can see how he is developing," said Arteta in March of last year when Balogun was in the Championship. "I didn't know the language and I'm still trying to learn - but for me it's important to step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself. It is a major step up from the striker who only managed three goals in 18 Championship games for Middlesbrough last season. Every Arsenal youngster who is thriving at the moment has suffered an early blow. The unknown striker was thrust into the Arsenal starting XI on the opening day loss at Brentford due to a coronavirus outbreak that ruled out Alexandre Lacazette and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. "Only right I show my respect," tweeted the 21-year-old that evening.

Arsenal news: Folarin Balogun has impressed on loan at Reims in France and the young striker netted a hat-trick on Wednesday to shoot to the top of the ...

"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. I realised there were certain things I would struggle with, but I think that’s a good thing. "There, I learned always to push my limits. "I think by the time I go back I’ll be in a better place to compete than I was before I left. 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.

Arsenal star Folarin Balogun has more goals on loan in France than Kylian Mbappe – now he might force Arsenal into rethinking their entire trajectory.

An encyclopedia of football shirts and boots knowledge – both past and present – Mark has also been to the FA Cup and League Cup finals for FFT and has written pieces for the mag ranging on subjects from Bobby Robson's season at Barcelona to Robinho's career. The last time Arsenal had an interest in a player this prolific in France, And if Balogun's trajectory is anything like Nketiah's, he could become one of the deadliest forwards in England sooner rather than later. He's netted a last-minute winner against [PSG](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/psg), a hat-trick against [Lorient](https://www.fourfourtwo.com/lorient) and with three nations vying for his citizenship, he might have big decisions to make at both club and international level. Gabriel Martinelli has a similar frame and strength to his game and he's re-invented himself under Arteta as a touchline winger, who can break into the box to score goals, dovetailing with Jesus, who drifts out of the penalty box a lot. Saka has played right and left, while Nketiah has played on the left. Jesus has only played as a No.9 for Arsenal but featured on both flanks for Manchester City, while Martinelli has played in all three forward positions, too. But really, Balogun might not end up as a centre-forward. The search ended with a more experienced acquisition in Leandro Trossard – who can play on either wing, at wing-back or in midfield. Arsenal now have six options in their three-man attack: Trossard joins Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Jesus, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson. Pedro Neto was on the list but too expensive, while Rafael Leao, Moussa Diaby and Yeremy Pino were all touted before Mudryk. When Arsenal sent Folarin Balogun on loan to Stade Reims, few eyebrows were raised.

With 14 goals in 20 games, including a hat-trick against Lorient, Balogun has given Arsenal a happy dilemma.

It is too early to say, but his mastery of French football certainly suggests he is moving in the right direction. Balogun’s equaliser at PSG came in front of Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, who was at the game and spoke to the young striker before kick-off. For most Arsenal supporters, Balogun (know as "Flo" to team-mates) will be best remembered for starting the opening match of last season, a painful 2-0 loss at Brentford. He chose Reims because he wanted to leave his “comfort zone”, he has said, and the loan has so far worked in almost every way (his French, his manager says, remains “absolutely shocking”). Balogun has defied all expectations in France and the quality of his performances will prompt some interesting conversations at Arsenal over the next few months. Folarin Balogun has already smashed that target and, at the age of 21, he is fast becoming one of the most exciting young forwards in Europe.

USMNT-eligible Folarin Balogun, who is on a season-long loan at Reims from Arsenal, moved into first place in the Ligue 1 scoring charts on Wednesday.

The striker has yet to receive a senior call-up from any of the three countries, and has most recently represented England at the U-21 level. Soccer, and how will they impact USMNT in 2026?](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2023/01/26/us-soccer-loses-sporting-director-usmnt-gm/11128411002/) [Weston McKennie and Tyler Adams guarantee great vibes at Leeds United](https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/2023/01/31/mckennie-transfer-to-leeds-usmnt-star-adams/) [open to playing for the USMNT in the future](https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/2022/10/15/folarin-balogun-usmnt-arsenal-reims-england-nigeria/). Soccer](https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/soccer/2023/01/26/us-soccer-loses-sporting-director-usmnt-gm/11128411002/) to actually recruit Balogun, but the federation should be devoting every resource toward convincing the forward that his interests are best served by turning out for the Stars and Stripes. [eligible for England, Nigeria and his birth country of the United States](https://prosoccerwire.usatoday.com/lists/americans-abroad-balogun-the-missing-piece-for-usmnt/).

No one has scored more goals in Ligue 1 than Folarin Balogun this season, not even Kylian Mbappe, Leo Messi or Neymar. American by birth, but a naturalised ...

England and USA national teams will be fighting for him. Despite playing little in the Premier League, his influence on Reims is noticeable, as he now has characteristics that place him among the most exciting No.9s in French football. American by birth, but a naturalised English citizen, he has so far scored 14 league goals for Stade Reims.

On Saturday, Arsenal can stretch their advantage to eight points with victory at Everton. Across the Channel, meanwhile, a foreign envoy continues to douse ...

William Saliba used Ligue 1 loans as a springboard to the Arsenal first team. Not long ago, Balogun had a sore hamstring and asked to see Arsenal’s physio. He challenged the forward to score 10 goals. Balogun joined Arsenal aged 10 and signed a new deal in 2021. Folarin Balogun, on loan at Stade de Reims, has muscled his way above Kylian Mbappe, Neymar and Lionel Messi to the summit of France’s scoring charts. No wonder minds are drifting to what comes next — for Balogun, Arsenal and the striker’s international prospects.