Folarin Balogun has once again shown Mikel Arteta why he would be an ideal striker for his system ahead of next season.
The Arsenal striker scored his first goal for Middlesbrough since joining the club on loan in January, which came against Sheffield United on Tuesday evening.
It was not just the fact that he was able to get on the scoresheet, but it was in the manner that he scored the goal which would have impressed Arteta.
The Gunners will be in desperate need of a striker in the summer transfer window, and if Balogun continues to deliver impressive performances, then he could certainly stake his claim next season.
Balogun scored his first goal for Boro due to his ability to quickly latch onto a goalkeeper’s mistake which gave him an easy opportunity to put the ball into the net.
His instinct to press the goalkeeper and be prepared for any potential mistake shows the quality of a top striker, which would certainly impress Arteta.
This goal followed his excellent assist a few weeks back when Balogun's high pressing saw him intercept the ball in Derby County’s box, which then saw him pick out his teammate with a lovely back-rolled flick.
Arteta expects a bundle of energy from his forward line, and Balogun’s determination to win the ball in the final third would certainly have impressed the Gunners boss.
The Spaniard likes to utilise a high-press so his team can regain possession of the ball in a swift manner, which creates a higher allowance of more sustainable attacks in the game.
However, the current crop of strikers at his disposal are not renowned for their pressing ability. In particular, Alexandre Lacazette doesn't have the speed of a player who can get around the pitch quick enough to start an effective press.
Martin Odegaard is usually the player to lead the team’s press with Lacazette following behind, however, with a forward who is agile enough to lead the line off the ball, it will give the team a better shape.
Balogun proved against Sheffield United that he has the ability to lead the team’s press, and this will provide a major advantage for Arsenal going into next season.
The youngster has been gaining valuable experience since joining Middlesborough on loan until the end of the season and he has a great chance to replicate his youth team qualities at the first-team level, and the FA Cup fixtures are also giving him an excellent platform to show his abilities against Premier League opposition.
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