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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Josh O'Brien

Folarin Balogun scores AGAIN to show Mikel Arteta exactly what he's missing at Arsenal

Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun is now Ligue 1's top scorer as his remarkable loan spell with Stade de Reims continues to produce an astonishing amount of goals.

Reims hosted Troyes on Saturday afternoon and made light work of them, running out 4-0 winners in a clash that saw Balogun bag his 15th league goal of the season. The young Gunner has drastically improved this season and is now being discussed as one of the brightest forward prospects in European football.

His latest effort oozed class, with Balogun latching on to a through ball before composing himself and stroking the ball into the bottom corner while sending the goalkeeper the wrong way in the process.

Balogun's time in France so far has produced a number of highlights, such as his dramatic stoppage time equaliser away at Ligue 1 titans Paris Saint-Germain or his remarkable hat-trick against Lorient three days later.

He possesses the kind of composure and finishing ability that his parent club could have done with in their last two games, as Arsenal's title charge has just started to stutter following a 1-0 defeat away at Everton last week before dropping another two points at home to Brentford in the form of a 1-1 draw.

Gunners boss Mikel Arteta discussed Balogun at his pre-match press conference before the clash with the Bees and waxed lyrical over the forward and his form out in France.

Folarin Balogun has scored 15 goals in 22 Ligue 1 games for Reims so far (Getty Images)

HAVE YOUR SAY! Will Balogun play a big part in the Arsenal squad next season? Comment below

"So happy for him," Arteta claimed. "He’s a boy with a really clear idea of what he wants to do in his career. Really ambitious, really committed and he’s really brave.

"We discussed before whether it was the right place to go and other choices that he had. He was so convinced and I’m really happy for him because he deserves what he’s getting.

"He’s got something special. That’s why we gave him a long-term contract and have faith in him, and give him the long period that he’s having now, because the period he’s having now is different to the one before at Middlesbrough."

Arteta has had to rely on another forward who came through Arsenal's famed academy set-up since Christmas in Eddie Nketiah following a serious knee injury to summer signing Gabriel Jesus that required surgery.

Nketiah shone initially, but has struggled in recent weeks, which in turn may open the door for Balogun to be discussed as a realistic first-team option for Arsenal once he returns at the end of the season.

Alternatively, should Balogun keep firing in goals at a rapid rate and still finds his pathway to regular minutes at the Emirates blocked he could be sold for a pretty penny.

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