In form: Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun scored for the England Under-21s against Andorra
(Picture: Action Images via Reuters)Folarin Balogun is excited about the prospect of returning to a transformed Arsenal side following his spell on loan at Middlesbrough.
The youngster, who joined promotion hopefuls Boro in January, has scored two goals in his last three games for Chris Wilder's men after a slow start to life at the Riverside.
Balogun, who also notched his second for England’s Under-21s against Andorra in Bournemouth on Friday night, says his game has matured in the Championship and he is now relishing the chance to make his mark back in north London.
Mikel Arteta's side has transformed in the time Balogun has been away. The departure of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has sparked an upturn in form, with Arsenal's young stars leading the charge.
With Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah, the only two senior strikers currently at the Emirates, both potentially departing in the summer, Balogun is not daunted by the prospect of stepping up.
"It's really exciting," he said. "Any single player would love to be in a side that is playing well. It makes your job easier.
"I'm looking at them but also concentrating on what I need to do to go into the team and add my qualities. From the outside looking in, it's really good."
Asked about his time in the Championship, Balogun said: "My game has become a lot more mature. Playing in the Under-23s I could get away with things sometimes, but playing men's football you need to play with your head a bit more and you need to know when to do certain things.
"My game has come on but there is a lot more I can do to improve. The biggest thing for me is it means a bit more.
"It means more the higher you go up. Losing the ball now gives the opposition a chance to score, do something to harm you. There's more pressure on it and with that pressure you need to be smarter not to be in that position.
"There's no hiding at Middlesbrough, we're trying to get promoted. That's the aim of the club. I've come in and had to adapt to it. It's a good pressure to be around. It's not something I shy away from."
The Gunners academy graduate will lead the line for Lee Carsley's England U21s in Albania on Tuesday night as they continue their push to qualify for next year's European Championship.
