{"id":583581,"date":"2021-02-13T06:29:04","date_gmt":"2021-02-13T11:29:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/?p=583581"},"modified":"2026-01-30T16:29:48","modified_gmt":"2026-01-30T21:29:48","slug":"arsenal-confident-of-new-folarin-balogun-contract","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lastwordonsports.com\/football\/2021\/02\/13\/arsenal-confident-of-new-folarin-balogun-contract\/","title":{"rendered":"Arsenal Confident of New Folarin Balogun Contract"},"content":{"rendered":"

Arsenal<\/a> are confident that teenage striker Folarin Balogun<\/a> will sign a new contract at the Emirates.<\/p>\n

The 19-year-old’s existing deal has only five months left to run, and Balogun has reportedly been of interest to many clubs across Europe.<\/p>\n

Arsenal Confident of New Contract for Folarin Balogun<\/h2>\n

Increased Game Time Will Factor Into Balogun’s Decision<\/h3>\n

The Evening Standard are reporting that Balogun is “weighing up his options”<\/a> before deciding whether to sign a new contract at Arsenal. The forward may yet decide that opportunities will be easier to come by elsewhere, having only made five appearances for the North London club this season.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, Balogun may decide that Arsenal remains the best place for him to continue his development. He is enjoying a fine season with the club’s U23s, having scored seven goals across 14 matches for Per Mertesacker<\/a>‘s academy side.<\/p>\n

Mikel Arteta Remains ‘Positive’ of Balogun Stay<\/h3>\n

First-team manager Mikel Arteta<\/a> has meanwhile asserted his belief that Balogun will eventually sign a new contract and commit his future to the club.<\/p>\n

“I’m still very positive that Flo is going to stay with us and it’s what we’re trying to do as a club, and it’s what I’m trying to do as a manager,” Arteta said of Balogun’s prospects.<\/p>\n

The Spaniard has made the development of young players a key component of his reign at the Emirates so far. The likes of Bukayo Saka<\/a> and Gabriel Martinelli<\/a> have established themselves as key players for the club, while fellow youngsters such as Emile Smith-Rowe<\/a> have excelled throughout the current season.<\/p>\n

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Arsenal Set for Tricky Run of Fixtures<\/h3>\n

Arteta’s side have five key fixtures to play before the end of February. Marcelo Bielsa’s Leeds United<\/a> visit the Emirates on Sunday before the Europa League tie last-32 tie with Portuguese giants Benfica sandwiches another important league game against Manchester City<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Brendan Rodgers’ in-form Leicester City<\/a> side then host the Gunners on February 28 in the Premier League<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Main Photo<\/p>\n

Embed from Getty Images<\/a>