‘Cheat code’: Some Arsenal fans think Hale End star is now first-team ready

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A number of Arsenal fans have waxed lyrical about Folarin Balogun’s latest display for the Gunners at age level.

Indeed, some feel Mikel Arteta already has his Eddie Nketiah replacement at the club amid the 22-year-old’s uncertain future.

Nketiah has reportedly turned down Arsenal’s latest offer of a new contract, with his current deal expiring in summer.

Meanwhile, Balogun recently penned a new contract at Arsenal, but has struggled for game time this season.

To date, the 20-year-old has made nine senior appearances for Arsenal, but just three have come this season.

Indeed, Arteta hasn’t given him senior game time since September.

But Balogun continues to completely dominate at age level, and on Wednesday, he shone against a senior League One team.

The young striker scored the equaliser for Kevin Betsy’s Under-21s as they overturned a 2-0 deficit against Ipswich in the EFL Trophy.

And Arsenal subsequently knocked the Blues out on penalties to reach the next round.

Plenty of Arsenal fans now feel Balogun is ready for the senior team, or at the very least a loan to a high-end EFL club: