Folarin Balogun is proving to be a player that Arsenal fans can get excited about in the future, especially as he continues to show everyone what he is capable of away from the club as he continues to learn his craft.

Indeed, most young players will head out on loan to hone their craft, and there is no denying that a temporary move away from the Emirates Stadium has worked out. Although, many who leave their comments on an Arsenal blog may have been surprised by just how good it has turned out!

Balogun banging the goals in for Stade de Reims

Still only 21 years old, many would forgive the New Yorker if he were to still be finding his feet at this level of the game given the fact that he still has plenty of raw talent that will need to be refined and further developed, while he has not exactly had too much experience in professional football thus far.

Aside from a loan spell with Middlesbrough last season, where he managed to feature fairly regularly, he has little football to speak of. Nonetheless, it is important to remember that he is still only at the earliest moment of his career.

Notwithstanding, it seems he is enjoying life in France to its fullest, as he has been nothing short of sensational for Stade de Reims since arriving in the summer. Indeed, only a few would have been expecting him to have scored as many as he has already.

In 14 matches played for the Ligue 1 side thus far, with 12 of those coming as starts, Balogun has been able to find the back of the net on eight occasions, scoring more than some of the world’s best including a certain Lionel Messi.

The eight goals scored thus far has made him the joint-fifth most prolific player in the French top division, with names such as Neymar, Kylian Mbappe, Jonathan David, and Terem Moffi the only individuals to have outscored him thus far. The Reims forward is also level with Martin Terrier and Alexandre Lacazette in the standings, therefore keeping some excellent company already at this stage of his career.

Will Balogun help Reims to an unlikely finish?

It will hardly come as a surprise to learn that Balogun is the current top goalscorer for Reims at the moment, but will he help them to an unlikely finish in the Ligue 1 table this season?

Given that the team appear to be a little bit like draw specialists – they have drawn seven of the 14 games played thus far and have only managed three wins – it is perhaps a little audacious to think about the French club as a side that will upset the apple cart by the end of the season.

Nonetheless, there is no denying that whatever happens at the end of the campaign, the America-born England Under-21 forward has had a successful career, one that many in his place of birth have certainly taken notice of.

It could be hard to understand why Americans in New York may have taken notice of the 21-year-old’s efforts this season, but with sports betting on the rise and wagering on soccer more popular than ever, it is something that those in the Big Apple have continued to look at.

Indeed, given the prolific rate of scoring he has enjoyed, punters are using the Caesars New York sportsbook odds for the local boy as they have noticed that they have become very attractive with each appearance that he makes for Reims.

While the number of goals he is scoring is something that many in the Big Apple are wagering on, there may be some that might be betting on him to become a success for Arsenal in the future, too. However, is this something that is likely to happen?

Could Balogun become a success at Arsenal in the future?

Naturally, having excelled away from the club, there has been a buzz from the Arsenal faithful about what the future could hold for the young English forward in the future. There will be many that will be wondering whether he has what it takes to be a success at the Emirates Stadium once he is a little older and has a greater exposure of senior football.

Of course, with something like this, time can normally be the only answer as it will help answer the questions that do not have a solid answer. However, there is every chance that – if given the opportunity – that he could shine in Mikel Arteta’s side in the future.

Obviously, the Gunners are enjoying themselves this season, too, with the club leading the charge for the Premier League title as we head to the 2022 FIFA World Cup, but could this work against him in the future? If the team were to win the league, would he be able to get in the team once he returns, regardless of how well he does in Ligue 1?

Arsenal, though, do need to be careful about how they manage Balogun as it has been reported that there are clubs across Europe that are keeping an eye on the New Yorker’s talent and how he continues to develop when playing first-team football. AC Milan are rumored to be just one of those teams said to be interested in the forward.

What should we expect from the rest of the season?

Balogun is likely going to continue to lead the line for Reims this season and while there will be a new manager in place for the Ligue 1 side, his fast start to the campaign will be simply too hard to ignore.

Indeed, Arsenal will want to ensure the 21-year-old gets the opportunity to continue to perform and play, too, as it will benefit them. If he is able to maintain his rate of goalscoring exploits, then he could be in for a serious number of goals, although that could also leave the Gunners and the youngster with questions that could be too difficult to answer in the summer.