Arsenal of England youngster, Folarin Balogun ws in action for The Gunners on Thursday night in the UEFA Europa League and his efforts helped the London-based side overcome Peter Olayinka’s Slavia Prague of Czech Republic.
Before bowing out in the quarter-finals on Thursday night, Olayinka’s team had sent out Wilfred Onyinyen Ndidi and Kelechi Iheanacho’s Liecester City of Engladn as well as Joe Aribo and Leon Aderemi Balogun’s Glasgow Rangers of Sctoalnd, but Balogun et al ensured there would be nbo further upset from the underdogs from Prague.
Megasportsarena.com reports that Olayinka was booked in the 63rd minute following a VAR review, as his side suffered a 4-0 defeat at Sinobo Stadium, while Arsenal join Manchester United, AS Roma and Villarreal in the last four.
Olayinka got full duration action, while and Balogun played the last four minutes and helped The Gunners right all wrongs from their struggles in a 1-1 draw at Emirates Stadium a week ago.
Three goals in half a dozen first half minutes from Nicolas Pepe, a penalty from Alexandre Lacazette and a sizzler from Bukayo Saka gave the north London club an unassailable lead.
Lacazette added Arsenal’s fourth and his second of the night 13 minutes from the end to put icing on their victory cake, as they moved on alongside United, who will face Samuel Chukwueze’s Villarreal of Spain in the next round.
Chukwueze was in the match highlights on several occasions, as The Yellow Submarine overcame Dinamo Zagreb of Croatia on Thursday night and he was in action for 90 minutes, while Iyayi Believe Atiemwen got off the losing side’s bench with 14 minutes remaining.
Chuwkeze was unlucky not to break the deadlock when he hammered a first-time volley against the post and Unai Emery’s team were in a good position to progress to the last four when Paco Alcacer gave them the lead on the night nine minutes before half-time.
The assist on that goal came from Chukwueze, as Alcácer tapped in after a brilliant cross from the Super Eagles’ youngster on the right wing, after which it became 2-0 in the 43rd minute when Gerard Moreno scored for the home team.
Dinamo’s Oršić slotted in to reduce the deficit, after which Chukwueze hit the woodwork again from outside the penalty area with 14 minutes remaining, but the 2-1 win was enough to send Villarreal into the last four, having won 1-0 in Zagreb a week earlier.
Despite crashing out on the night, Slavia Prague’s coach Jindřich Trpisovsky stressed the importance of Olayinka to his side, hence his decision to feature the dreadlocks-wearing attacker, who had been doubtful to face The Gunners.
Olayinka has impressive numbers in European competitions since he debuted in the 2015/16 campaign for KF Skënderbeu of Albania, and 90 minutes under his boots versus Arsenal took his total appearances in Europe to 41, with 28 of those games in the Europa League.
Trpisovsky admitted he needs the former Super Eagles’ invitee, who has five goals and two assists in ten Europa League matches this season, with the coach adding: “Peter Olayinka has a lot behind him and is very experienced.
“He went through great European struggles with us, where he was also productive. His style is important to us.”
