Arsenal of England youth team player, Folarin Balogun enacted yet another feat that underlined his growing status with The Gunners, as he netted three goals to help the London-based side’s second team romp to their fifth straight victory in the English Premier League 2.
Balogun put aside ongoing speculation about his future at Emirates Stadium and ongoing tussles between his agents with the club’s top brass over terms of a new, improved contract, as he hit a treble that helped The Gunners snatch a 5-0 victory against Brighton & Hove Albion.
Megasportsarena.com gatheerd that the Nigerian-born fast-rising attacker’s sparkling performance at Meadow Park on Friday night also made him the standout dazzler in an array of seven youngsters of Nigerian parentage that was on parade between both teams.
Arsenal’s under-23 team’s coach, Steve Bould fielded goalkeeper Arthur Okonkwo, center back Joseph Olowu, right-back Ryan Alebiosu, central midfielders Miguel Azeez and Tim Akinola, and Balogun from the start, but Mazeed Ogungbo watched from the bench; while The Seagulls had Ayo Tanimowo on for 90 minutes in his 10th appearance of the season.
Azeez gave the home team the lead inside six minutes with his first goal for Arsenal’s under-23 squad, after which Balogun made it 2-0 when he slotted into the bottom corner after dribbling through the Brighton defence four minutes later.
Balogun then increased the lead on the stroke of half-time, with an assist from Azeez, following which Nikolaj Moller got in on the act four minutes from time, firing into an empty net after the ball was put on a plate for him by Akinola.
There was still time for Balogun to complete his hat-trick in stoppage time, to put the icing on yet another five-star display that is sure to keep him high on the cards of a possible contract extension with The Gunners, whose gaffer, Mikel Arteta is trying desperately to keep the lad.
