Mikel Arteta drops hint over future of Arsenal star amid Chelsea and Juventus interest

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has given a major hint over the future of striker Folarin Balogun.

The 22-year-old is back with the Gunners after enjoying a highly impressive loan spell with French side Reims last season. Balogun scored 22 goals and provided three assists in 39 appearances in all competitions for the Ligue 1 club and has been heavily linked with a permanent move away from the Emirates Stadium in recent weeks.

Italian giants Juventus and London rivals Chelsea have both been suggested as possible suitors but Arteta has revealed Balogun will stay with Arsenal ‘at the moment’ after he made a 45-minute appearance in Thursday night’s opening pre-season friendly with German club FC Nurnburg.

He said: “Well this is what he has been doing and that’s why we gave him the minutes that he deserves to show what he can do. He’s just staying here with us at the moment and we will see what happens.”

Arteta handed starts to the likes of Aaron Ramsdale, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah in the 1-1 draw with a Nurnberg side that will compete in German football’s second tier during the upcoming season.

Reflecting on the display, the Spaniard expressed his satisfaction at the display and praised a number of youngster players that were handed a chance to shine among their senior counterparts.

“There are a lot of positive things that we can take, especially the way we played in the first half – the tempo, the composure, the commitment that we showed,’ explained the Gunners boss.

“We had some big chances to score more goals at the end, and mistakes are a part of football because they haven’t given much to be fair, but it was great to see our young players playing as well and doing really well in an environment that is challenging.”