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Chris Davison

Folarin Balogun tells Mikel Arteta he can fulfil Arsenal's summer plan after Tottenham upset

It may be all quiet on the Arsenal front at the moment but we can always rely on Tottenham to provide the midweek entertainment.

Antonio Conte's latest defeat as Spurs head coach was perhaps one of his most damning yet, a 1-0 defeat away to Championship side Middlesbrough in the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Even though the Italian fielded exactly the same starting XI that cruised past Leeds United in the league last week, Chris Wilder's men were on a different level.

One of the standouts for Boro was Isaiah jones, who has reportedly attracted interest from Arsenal.

Primarily a right-sided midfielder, the 22-year-old can also operate as a right-wing-back. Last night, in particular, you could see the blistering pace and high work rate that Jones possesses in addition to his skill with the ball, which played a key role in Middlesbrough's dangerous counter-attacks.

Speaking on BBC prior to the match, former Boro head coach Jonathan Woodgate was full of praise for the player: "He is playing a role for Middlesbrough as a right-wing back, but he is normally a right-winger. He is so quick running with the ball, his deliveries are good and he does not stop running.

"As a defender, you hate playing against pace and he has that in abundance. It is a credit to the head of recruitment, and there is a reason why they did not bring back Djed Spence from Nottingham Forest is because of Isaiah Jones and how good he has been."

Jones' promising display against Premier League opposition would have certainly left Mikel Arteta impressed amid Arsenal's potential need for an affordable back-up at right-back.

Not just because he was hoping to see another Spurs meltdown like the rest of us but because Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun was also involved.

The Hale End academy product started on the bench but was introduced in the 75th minute, with the game still goalless. It didn't take long for the 20-year-old to make an impact, linking up nicely with his teammates and adding an extra threat in attack for the hosts.

Although Balogun found himself in a good position on the edge of the box at one point, he was unable to keep his first-time effort down before it flew over the bar.

Despite failing to make an impact in the central areas of the pitch, Balogun was noticeably causing problems out wide. Confidently taking on his man while also offering speed and strength, he nearly created a goalscoring opportunity after skillfully beating Cristian Romero.

Balogun's success on the flank should be a reminder to Arteta that he already has an extra winger option should Nicolas Pepe depart in the summer. Although the majority of the youngster's goals have come while operating as a striker, he has also scored nine and provided four assists in 13 appearances from the left-hand side.

Jones too proved he has what it takes to make that step up and become a Premier League player after testing himself against top-flight opposition. The Gunners could be the perfect destination for him as they look to potentially bolster the right-back/wing-back position.

Arsenal already have their player agent in the dressing room at Riverside Stadium. Flo, it's over to you.

Follow our Arsenal Fan Brands Writer Chris Davison on Twitter to get involved in the discussion and give us your thoughts in the comments section below. Make sure you have subscribed to The Arsenal Way and the Fan Brands team along with plenty of your football.london favourites will be producing daily Arsenal content for you to enjoy including match reactions, podcasts, football fun and interviews.

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