Skip to main content

Folarin Balogun Speaks Out On First Arsenal Goal As Mikel Arteta Readies New Contract


Folarin Balogun says he was "really happy" to score his first Arsenal goal and urged manager Mikel Arteta to keep "showing faith" in him.

Balogun, 19, came off the bench in the 82nd minute of the Europa League clash and took just one minute to open his Gunners account in his second senior appearance.

The England U20 forward received a square pass from Emile Smith Rowe, turned in the box and finished instinctively to cap a professional Arsenal display.

Balogun's bright cameo and late goal were the latest reminder of his phenomenal potential. He is out of contract at the end of the season and Arteta is keen to tie him down to a new deal.

In the meantime, Balogun called on his gaffer to keep handing him minutes with the first team to continue his development.

"I’m feeling really happy, it shows that all the hard work I’ve put in over the years is just starting to pay off," Balogun told Arsenal's official website.

"It’s important that I keep working hard to enjoy more moments like this.

"I didn’t think that particular [break for the goal] was going to be my chance, but I always try to stay ready and I’m happy that on this occasion it paid off.

"It’s been good [to be involved], it’s nice to see the boss showing faith in me. It feels like this is good experience for me, I just need to keep on learning, keep on adding to my game and I’m happy that I could contribute today."

Meanwhile, Arteta confirmed his desire for Balogun to commit his future to Arsenal as he opened up on "some difficult months" for the youngster.

“Well deserved for the boy. He’s working really hard,” said the Gunners boss. “He had some difficult months with all the speculation around him, he’s handled the situation in a really mature way.

He wants to stay, we want him to stay. We gave him the opportunity and he took it straight away.”

READ ALSO: TEARS IN MY EYES: ARSENAL FANS REACT TO ‘GREAT NEWS’ THEY’VE HEARD


 

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

55-Year-Old Man Arrested For Defiling Neighbor’s 10-Year-Old Girl

A 55-year old man, Jonas Obuobi, has landed in trouble in Lagos after he was reportedly caught engaging his neighbour’s 10-year old girl in sex and was arrested. The incident happened at Etimagu Street, Bariga area of Lagos where they reside. Police sources alleged that the suspect, Jonas, lured the victim into his apartment where he confused her, removed her pant and eventually defiled her in the process. However, while in the act, their neighbours caught him and the matter was reported to the Police who arrested and handed him to the Gender Section of the Command, Ikeja, Lagos for further investigation. During investigation, he denied raping her but reportedly saying that he did not force her into the act.However, the Police found him culpable because of the age of the victim and later charged him before the Ogba Magistrates Court for the alleged offence. The Court did not take his plea after the prosecutor, Mr. Christopher John, asked the Court to refer the matter to t...
Post a Comment
Read more

Arsenal's £72m Enigma: Arteta Right To Demand More From Mercurial Pepe

The Gunners' record signing may have scored his third goal of the season on Thursday night but his manager wants consistency across 90 minutes. Mikel Arteta’s answer was clear when asked what Nicolas Pepe needed to show in order to earn himself a regular starting spot in Arsenal's Premier League team. “Consistency,” said the Arsenal boss, when quizzed on the Gunners’ record signing, following Thursday’s night’s 4-1 Europa League win against Molde at the Emirates Stadium. It was a game that perfectly encapsulated the enigma that is Pepe. The £72 million ($95m) man was infuriating at times - especially in the first half - but just as he had done against Dundalk a week earlier, he popped up with an excellent goal. He also went on to add an assist for Joe Willock, a late strike which sealed a comfortable victory for Arteta’s side and all but booked Arsenal’s passage into the knockout stages. It was a classic Pepe performance and more evidence of why he remains such a puzzle in nort...
Post a Comment
Read more

Should Arsenal Sell Eddie Nketiah To West Ham

 Once he hit the U18s he was known as a prolific goalscorer, and was quickly promoted to the U23s, where he carried on scoring despite his age, and Arsene Wenger introduced him to the senior side. Fans started to take notice when he came on as a sub in a League Cup game against Norwich and scored both goals and we were excited for his future. But that promise has never quite materialised. Eddie has continued to be prolific against Smaller sides (i.e. League Cup, Europa League and England U21 qualifiers) but in the League he has managed just 4 goals in 33 appearances, although mostly off the bench. The superstriker never seems to emerge, but I guess we have to remember he is still only 21 and has rarely had a run in the senior side, but I don’t think fans are as excited about him displacing Aubameyang or Lacazette any more. So, the rumours today are that West Ham are considering making an offer for Eddie, after selling Hillier to Ajax for 20m, and we could probably do with selling a...
Post a Comment
Read more