Folarin Balogun makes Mikel Arteta claim ahead of facing Arsenal in Champions League this season

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After leaving Arsenal in 2023, Folarin Balogun has now begun his second season playing for Monaco in Ligue 1. 

After his 22-goal campaign for Stade Reims in the 2022/23 season, many Arsenal fans were pleading with Mikel Arteta to give the striker a chance in pre-season.

Arteta humoured the idea, briefly giving Balogun some minutes in the early part of their summer tour, but then it quickly became clear that the United States international would be leaving.

Arsenal then sold Balogun for £26m to Monaco, a fee that a few of the club’s supporters also complained about, believing that Edu should have recouped more.

Of course, with the benefit of hindsight and Balogun’s fairly slow first year at Monaco, Arsenal’s deal now appears to be sufficient.

Folarin Balogun says Mikel Arteta made the right decision selling him

That being said, Arsenal will be reunited with Balogun in the latter stages of the Champions League’s new league phase.

Arsenal face Monaco in match day six on December 11, a trip to the Emirates Stadium that Balogun will be relishing. 

READ MORE: What Mikel Arteta did when PSG tried to poach from him Arsenal in 2023

And ahead of that reunion, Balogun has spoken about his Arsenal exit on ‘Ballin Abroad’, a series of interviews by JD Football.

Balogun shared what Arteta said to him prior to Arsenal’s decision to sell another Hale End Academy talent, expressing that it was the best solution for all parties.

Balogun said: “I remember speaking to Mikel and we just spoke about his plans and he said that he wouldn’t be able to guarantee me the same amount of games I got last year.

“That was understandable, but from my point of view, I needed those games to improve and learn different things.

“It wasn’t so much of a big decision, I feel like it was a decision that is sometimes just the right decision.”

Balogun won’t relish William Saliba test

Overall, Balogun has now scored 10 goals and provided eight assists in 39 appearances at Monaco, a fairly solid start.

But if the 23-year-old harbours any frustrations it will be that he hasn’t always been starting, often limited to chances off of the bench.

That being said, Balogun’s minutes have improved in Ligue 1 this season, leading to two goals in five games.

One would imagine that the former Hale End talent would be gutted if weren’t in the starting eleven come December in north London, even if he may not relish playing against William Saliba and Gabriel Magalhaes.