Thierry Henry has urged Folarin Balogun to find a team where he is guaranteed regular game time next season, rather than return to Arsenal where he is not guaranteed a place in the starting lineup. The 21-year-old is currently on loan at Reims, where he has scored 20 goals in all competitions this season, catching the eye of many. With Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah ahead of him, as well as Arsenal being linked with other forwards, Balogun’s chances of regular game time at the Gunners are slim. Henry has backed Balogun’s decision to switch his international allegiance to America instead of England, and suggests that the forward should look for a team where he can play regularly. Henry said: ‘I think it’s a great one [coup] because they are missing a number 9. Now for him it’s going to be important next season to play. He’s been great in the league. He’s a good 9. Now he’s going to have to find a team where he’s going to play next year, that’s very important.’
Balogun was born in the States, but grew up in England and was also eligible to play for Nigeria. On his choice of USA he said: ‘When I broke the news to my family they were all just over the moon, especially my mom. She said, “What took you so long?” To represent the United States means a lot, more than people would know. I’m very proud and honoured to have this opportunity, and I want to give everything I have to make our team successful.’
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta spoke back in February of Balogun’s impressive form in France, saying: ‘I’m so happy for him. He’s a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career. He’s really ambitious, really committed and really brave. We discussed a lot before he made that move whether it was the right place to go and the other choices he had. He was so convinced. I’m really happy for him because he deserves what he’s getting. When you look at the numbers and what he is doing, it’s just incredible. It’s very rare to see that. But he’s got something special, that’s why we decided to give him a long-term contract and have faith in him and give him the long period that he needs now, because the loan he is having now is really different to the one he had before at Middlesbrough.’
Thierry Henry has urged Folarin Balogun to find a team where he is guaranteed regular game time next season, rather than return to Arsenal where he is not guaranteed a place in the starting lineup. The 21-year-old is currently on loan at Reims, where he has scored 20 goals in all competitions this season, catching the eye of many. With Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah ahead of him, as well as Arsenal being linked with other forwards, Balogun’s chances of regular game time at the Gunners are slim. Henry has backed Balogun’s decision to switch his international allegiance to America instead of England, suggesting that the forward should look for a team where he can play regularly. Henry said: ‘I think it’s a great one [coup] because they are missing a number 9. Now for him it’s going to be important next season to play. He’s been great in the league. He’s a good 9. Now he’s going to have to find a team where he’s going to play next year, that’s very important.’
Balogun was born in the States, but grew up in England and was also eligible to play for Nigeria. On his choice of USA he said: ‘When I broke the news to my family they were all just over the moon, especially my mom. She said, “What took you so long?” To represent the United States means a lot, more than people would know. I’m very proud and honoured to have this opportunity, and I want to give everything I have to make our team successful.’
Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta spoke back in February of Balogun’s impressive form in France, saying: ‘I’m so happy for him. He’s a boy that has a really clear idea of what he wants to do with his career. He’s really ambitious, really committed and really brave. We discussed a lot before he made that move whether it was the right place to go and the other choices he had.