Folarin Balogun is in the headlines in the French media on Wednesday after his Arsenal exit in the summer, but it’s unfortunately not for a good reason.
The centre-forward, who was signed by Monaco on a €30m deal last summer, managed to score a goal against Lens at the weekend, but also missed an important penalty.
That was his fourth miss this season. Now as Monaco manager Adi Hutter spoke to the French media, quoted by RMC Sport, he claimed the former Arsenal player will no longer have that responsibility.
“He’s no longer our penalty-taker. The number one now is Wissam. When Ben Yedder isn’t on the pitch, it’s up to me to decide who takes the penalty,” said Adi Hutter.
“We have a list for the team, and we’ve had a good conversation with the team. We’re withdrawing Balogun, but he remains focused for the game, he’s playing very well and for me he’s fit.”
Since joining Monaco in the summer, Balogun has six goals and five assists in 21 appearances. He signed a contact with them until 2028.
The striker is a product of Arsenal’s youth ranks, and played for many levels until reaching the Gunners’ first team.
In his time in England, besides having loan spells at Middlesbrough and Stade Reims, he also made 10 appearances for Arsenal, with two goals and one assist.
Now he’s trying to find his best for in his second season in France, but isn’t having an easy time in the principality, with many frustrated at his inability to recapture the form he had managed to acquire under Will Still during the 2022-23 season.
