Watch: Balogun hits stunning hat-trick to become Ligue 1 top goalscorer

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Folarin Balogun has been quite the sensation in Ligue 1 this season with Stade de Reims, and the Arsenal loanee took his stock to a whole new level this week with his first-ever professional hat-trick.

In a pulsating 4-2 win against FC Lorient, the 21-year-old attacker scored a sensational trio to claim Reims the three points as Balogun opened his account on the night from the penalty spot to cut a 2-0 deficit in half, before two incredible second-half volleys guided the hosts to a comeback victory.

Watch as Balogun scores sensational Reims hat-trick

With Balogun taking his tally in the league to 14 goals, the on-loan Arsenal star is now at the summit of the Ligue 1 scoring charts, besting even the likes of PSG stars Kylian Mbappe and Neymar, with the Hale End graduate getting on over the French giants last weekend in the 95th minute.

Indeed, Balogun’s scoring record has taken many by surprise in England, yet for Arsenal fans, there was also a hope that this sort of thing was possible given just how good the striker has been at youth level over the years for the north London side.

However, the main question now for Arsenal is what to do with Balogun once his loan spell with Reims comes to and end, with this first hat-trick for the 21-year-old likely to attract some eyeballs for the England youth international ahead of the summer transfer window.

Arsenal could earn some major profit in the summer

Balogun might be tearing it up for Reims this season and is now Europe’s leading goalscorer for players under the age of 21, yet there’s a realistic chance that the youngster would struggle for minutes at Arsenal next season even after this incredible year out in France.

As we know, Gabriel Jesus is Arsenal’s current starting striker when everyone is fully fit, and with Eddie Nketiah a superb deputy for the Brazilian international, having Balogun as third-choice seems unfair on the youngster, who has shown he can lead the line in a top league.

As a result, selling the striker when his stock is as high as it could ever be might be a smart choice from Arsenal, especially with the Gunners in the market to add two world-class midfielders in the summer, something that could be aided with the major sale of an academy graduate.