Youngster Folarin Balogun is a part of Arsenal’s future

Mikel Arteta pleased with Folarin’s progress in recent months.

The 20-year old youngster joined Middlesbrough on loan in January and netted two in his last three outings for Boro before the international break.

Manager Mikel Arteta believes the Arsenal academy product is showing signs of development which will serve him well at Arsenal.

“I think Flo is doing what he needed to do, and probably we should have done it a little bit earlier,” Arteta said.

“It’s always a bit difficult to time when is the best moment to do that. But he’s having the right exposure, he’s playing in a different formation and sometimes a different role under a manager and a club with huge history.

“You can see how he is developing. This is going to give us more detail about what is the next best move for him to keep developing, because he has developed and we want him to be part of our future.

“He needed a pathway, he needs that exposure. He needs to go through good and difficult moments, and he needs to be able to adapt and find himself in the dressing room, and develop the importance that is required to play at this level. I think he is doing all of that really well.”

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