LIVE
...

Follow us on

News

Martin Keown impressed with performance of Arsenal youngster Folarin Balogun

Add as preferred source on Google

Martin Keown has claimed that everyone should remember the name Folarin Balogun, who earned another cameo appearance for Arsenal on Thursday night.

The 19-year-old striker has come through the academy system with the Gunners and has made his first four senior appearances for them this season, with manager Mikel Arteta deciding to blood youngsters in the Europa League group stages.

£15million-rated (Goal) teenager Balogun has been used as a substitute in four European matches so far, including on Thursday night in the 4-2 victory against Dundalk to make it a 100 per cent win record in the group.

The centre-forward was on the pitch less than half an hour, but managed one goal and one assist to send out a real message of his potential.

Despite not starting any of his four first-team appearances for Arsenal, he’s already got two goals and he’s a huge talent coming through the academy and potentially knocking on the first-team door.

“I’m looking at him thinking, remember the name,” Keown told BT Sport 2 (7:50pm, 10 December).

“The way that he linked up, you try and compare, is it Andy Cole or Ian Wright, there’s that sort of movement about him. I know they’re big-name players and if he can live up to that he’s going to have some career.

“I just like way he’s always looking on the shoulder, his movement, look at the way he’s brought three defenders in, he’s created space for [Joe] Willock there to do the rest.

“I was really impressed… He’s had to wait for his opportunity, he’s 19 years of age and already showing really good signs.”

(Photo by Linnea Rheborg/Getty Images)

TBR’s View:

With Arsenal scoring 10 goals in just 11 league games so far this season, some fans have even suggested throwing Balogun into the side this weekend for his Premier League debut at home to Burnley.

It’s most likely that Arteta will stick with senior figures to try dig them out of their domestic hole, but perhaps giving forward Balogun a late runout might not be the worst idea and he certainly looks a player with plenty of confidence around the penalty box.

The North London club have had a faultless European campaign so far and now desperately need to start delivering similar performances in the league.