Arsenal coach Arteta ponders Timo Werner-like role at RB Leipzig for Balogun in new season

Published: July 20, 2021

Allnigeriasoccer.com understands that Arsenal first-team manager Mikel Arteta is pondering over a new role in attack for Anglo-American-Nigerian youngster Folarin Balogun in the forthcoming season.

Predominantly a center forward prior to his promotion to the first team on a permanent basis, the England youth international has been deployed mostly as a left-sided winger in Arsenal's training sessions during the pre-season.

It is exactly the same role that Chelsea star Timo Werner used to play at RB Leipzig before permanently switching to a center forward, where he will cut in from the left and find space behind the fullbacks.

Captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameya is the main focal point in the Arsenal attack, while the likes of Alexandre Lacazette, Eddie Nketiah and Gabriel Martinelli were ahead of Balogun in Mikel Arteta's pecking order of center forwards in 2020-2021.

To create room for Balogun in the Arsenal squad and with an eye on next year's 2021 Africa Cup of Nations, where Ivory Coast winger Nicolas Pepe is expected to be away for at least three weeks, Arteta is trying to develop a new system.

The Hale End Academy graduate was deployed on the left wing in Arsenal's 2-2 draw with Glasgow Rangers last weekend.

New York City-born Balogun is expected to be named in Arsenal's traveling squad to the United States, where they will compete in the Florida Cup.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel

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