Unable to make himself a spot in Mikel Arteta’s plans at Arsenal this season due to the signing of Gabriel Jesus and extra competition in the role, Folarin Balogun was sent out on loan at Stade de Reims.
This decision was one taken by him, as he explained to the Ligue 1 website in a lengthy interview, which is currently paying off, as he is one of the more prolific players in the league, with eight goals in 14 appearances to date.
This will please both Arsenal and Arteta, who will want the 21-year-old to keep developing, with a bright future clearly ahead of him.
The website, wanting to know more about the decision to move to Stade de Reims, asked him about the thought process behind the transfer.
The Arsenal loanee said: “I had several leads in England, France and Germany. When my agent told me that Reims was interested in me, I saw it as an opportunity. I have always liked to take risks. I am not someone who plays it safe.
What is very interesting in all this is that despite the departure of Hugo Ekitike to Paris Saint-Germain, Balogun wasn’t guaranteed game time at first with the Ligue 1 side.
They told him that he was ‘going to have to prove’ that he deserved a spot, and that gave him the extra drive to choose Reims as his next destination.
What also helped was the advice given to him by both Alexandre Lacazette (now at Lyon) and Nicolas Pépé (on loan at OGC Nice), his Arsenal teammates at the time.
Balogun said: “Yes, I spoke with Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pépé. It was Nicolas who set me the goal of scoring 10 goals. He told me that it would be not bad for a start in Ligue 1 and that I had the qualities to play in France.”
Both had played in Ligue 1 previously, with Lyon and Lille respectively, and it was clear they saw it as a great opportunity for the youngster to grow.
They were right, and with the Arsenal man close to meeting that 10-goal challenge set by Pépé, there’s room for far more once the World Cup is over.
