Arsenal striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has quickly established himself as Arsenal’s star striker. The Gabonese ace has been a key figure in Unai Emery’s side – but he’s already identified young Nigerian Folarin Balogun as a potential star of the future who could become his long-term successor.
Aubameyang responded to a tweet from Arsenal Academy’s twitter account regarding the 17-year-old and hailed his ability, hinting he could be one to watch to make a future first team impact.
22 goals in 23 appearances and a pacey style likened to Aubameyang has seen Balogun emerge as one of the top prospects in Arsenal’s youth ranks. The teenager revealed he tries to model his game on the former Borussia Dortmund man and has benefited from some sessions with Unai Emery’s first team.
“I am the sort of striker that likes to play on the shoulder of the last defender and make runs behind them, similar to the way that Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang plays,’ he told Arsenal.com
“I’ve trained a few times with the first team and I feel that I’ve benefited from being involved with them, especially when playing against experienced defenders which forces you to find different ways of getting in on goal as what works at lower levels does not always work against them.”
Balogun was born in New York to Nigerian parents but has lived in England since the age of two, giving him plenty of international options if he lives up to his early promise.
I haven’t yet declared who I will commit to internationally,” he revealed.
“I was born in New York, so can play for the USA. My parents were born in Nigeria and I have been in England since I was two years old, so I can play for both those countries too!
“I have several youth caps playing for England and I enjoy their style of play which is similar to Arsenal’s. I will be discussing matters with my parents and will then decide.”
