One former Gunner is flying the flag for Hale End in the Champions League.
Arsenal’s academy is producing the next wave of top talents for Mikel Arteta, who has seen his fair share of starlets in North London.
While Arteta has given many chances to academy hopefuls, not every player makes it into the Arsenal squad.
One star that the Arsenal manager sold just made the headlines in the Champions League, as Folarin Balogun scored Monaco’s match-winner against Galatasaray.
What are your thoughts on Arsenal’s £34m sale of Folarin Balogun?
Former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun scored the only goal in Monaco’s win over Victor Osimhen’s Galatasaray
It was a battle of the strikers in the contest, as Balogun faced former Arsenal target Victor Osimhen.
If fans were told in 2022, when Arsenal sanctioned a final loan for Balogun, that he’d make the headlines over Osimhen in the Champions League, many would’ve thought it was a joke.
On matchday six of the tournament, it became a reality, as the United States international scored the decisive goal.
Arteta debuted Balogun in 2020, three years before he was sold permanently to Monaco after an incredible season on loan at Stade Reims.
It’s been a successful ride for the striker in France, but it hasn’t come without challenges.
Balogun came out on top, but it wasn’t easy
After scoring 21 Ligue 1 goals in the 2022/23 season, Monaco didn’t hesitate to sign Balogun, but his scoring rate slowed over the following two campaigns.
The former Hale Ender is now on the rise once again, having already scored seven goals in all competitions this season, more than his 2024/25 total.
Balogun isn’t the finished article, but as seen against Galatasaray, with a mentality and hunger like his, he’s on the right path.
The 24-year-old missed three big chances before scoring, finally putting his chance away in the 68th minute to eventually win the game.
Post-match, his teammate Maghnes Akliouche, with whom Arsenal held talks, praised Balogun’s character.
“He missed some chances, but we saw his strength of character,” Akliouche told the mixed zone, as per Monaco’s official website.
“He never gives up and always wants to be a threat. He had a third opportunity, he put it away, and we congratulated him in the locker room.”
Balogun is rated so highly at Monaco, deservedly earning the headlines on the biggest stage of them all.
Receive a digest of our best Arsenal content each week direct to your mailbox
