[ad_1]
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta says he is hopeful Folarin Balogun will compromise his future with the Gunners after the forward told the Spaniard that he wanted to stay with the Emirates.
The forward is out of contract at the end of the season and last summer hinted that he would rather leave, rather than wait to depart on a free transfer.
However, Balogun is highly rated by Arsenal and showed his growing potential with a fine goal in the Gunners’ 4-2 win against Dundalk on Thursday night.
The Europa League has given the forward some playing time with Arteta and has helped create the feeling that he can get into the first team if he is given more chances.
Arteta has made no secret of his desire to retain the forward, but has now crucially confirmed that Balgoun has told him he wants to stay.
‘Well, we are having some discussions with the player. He knows we want to keep him at the club, ‘said Arteta.
“We know that the length of your contract at the moment is a problem, but we are trying to solve it in the best possible way. We want you to stay.
“He told me he wants to stay at the club, hopefully we can reach an agreement and extend his contract.”
When asked about his performance in the 28 minutes he played in Ireland, Arteta said: “He has done really well every minute he has been on that field, it has been magnificent. Today he looked like a threat again, he scored a goal, he scored another, he looked really lively and mature in that field. ”
Arsenal’s victory means that they finish their group with a 100% record and therefore as group winners.
That will ensure that they cannot face a team that has dropped out of the Champions League in the past 32 and instead face a runner-up from one of the other groups.
The Gunners’ attention will now turn to the Premier League, where they have not won in four games.
MORE: ‘Remember the name!’ – Martin Keown compares Arsenal star Folarin Balogun to Ian Wright after Dundalk win
[ad_2]
