Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has issued a strong warning to Gunners youngster and contract rebel Folarin Balogun, claiming the striker will only get his first team chances when his hand is forced as a tactician.
The 19-year-old has been noted for his prolific form at under-23 level and has been on the cusp of entering the fringes of the first team. He recently made his senior debut as he came on as a substitute in the 3-0 victory over Irish side Dundalk in the Europa League.
Balogun has just over six months remaining on his current contract, having refused to commit his future to the club, and had been the subject of a £3m offer from Sheffield United over the summer. Several Bundesliga clubs are also believed to be monitoring his situation.
Balogun was a notable absentee from the squad which secured victory over Molde on Thursday night, but Arteta was clear when asked as to why Balogun wasn’t in the matchday squad, as quoted by the Metro, saying:.
‘Again, the chances will come with what they show us with their performances on the pitch and in training.
‘The better results we have and the more clear we are in the group stages, obviously that opens the door a little bit more to give more opportunities to more players that deserve it.
‘At the moment we still have some senior players that we cannot give them the time that they deserve because at the moment we have a lot of fit players.’
When pressed about his policy of selecting fringe first team players ahead of some of the club’s most exciting youngsters, Arteta added:
‘If you look at the numbers of how much the young players have played since I joined, I don’t think it’s a question that we can raise to ourselves.
‘Eddie was on loan, he wasn’t playing and now he’s playing. Bukayo wasn’t playing the minutes that he is playing under me, the same with Joe. Reiss didn’t play today because he was injured. If not he would have started the game tonight again.
‘The good thing is that they’re not just young players so we have to give them the opportunity, they have to earn that right to play and they are doing that. That’s a really positive thing and how lucky we are to have this generation. We [have to] develop them in the right way and the right way sometimes is giving them the opportunities when they deserve it.
‘If not they don’t play and it’s the best way for them to learn the standards that are required at this football club. If not then you are not good enough to play here. When they show it they have to start. We have a few examples of that and they start every week.’
Read Arsenal Verdict
As it stands, Balogun’s Arsenal future remains in doubt. Snubs by Arteta will do little to convince the youngster he can join the likes of Bukayo Saka, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah in breaking into the first team any time soon.
Running down his contract may will be the best path ahead for the youngster as he searches for a platform to better showcase his abilities.
