Arsenal U23 boss responds to question on whether PL 2 all-time top scorer is leaving on loan

Anglo-American-Nigerian center forward Folarin Balogun is angling for a loan move away from Arsenal in the January transfer window.

Balogun has been starved of playing time despite his promotion to the first team on a permanent basis before the start of the season and he has been turning out for the Gunners development squad to build up his match fitness.

The statistics back up the claim that U23 football is too easy for Balogun with fifteen goals across all competitions this term including a recent hat-trick against Derby County.

With his treble against the Rams on November 26, the England U21 international entered the history books as the all-time top goalscorer in Premier League 2 history with 34 goals.

In most cases the pathway to breaking into the first team of a top Premier League club comes through a loan move to a team in the Football League.

Speaking after the win against Ipswich Town in the Papa John's Trophy, Gunners U23 boss Kevin Betsy was asked whether Balogun should be loaned out in the January transfer window.

Betsy told The Athletic via Daily Cannon : "That’s a decision that comes from the club.

"Every player’s journey is different whether it’s to stay at the club and develop with the under-23s and then push for the first team or go on loan like Emile (Smith Rowe, who was sent out on January loans to RB Leipzig and Huddersfield Town) did.

"His development is there for all to see. He’s scoring goals, making goals, being a threat. Today he’s playing against senior players and deals with it.

"There’s no doubt in my mind about Flo’s level and competency to be a top-class striker in the future and we’re all behind him and supporting him to try to get better."

Balogun has not played for Arsenal's first team since coming off the bench in a Carabao Cup fixture against AFC Wimbledon on September 22.

Ifeanyi Emmanuel