Seven and counting :  Arsenal loanee Folarin Balogun scores again for Reims 

Folarin Balogun, unarguably Arsenal's most in-form loanee, scored again for Stade de Reims as the six-time French champions defeated Auxerre 2-1 at the Stade Auguste Delaune on Sunday. 

Compared to his loan stint at Middlesbrough in the second half of last season, there has been an incredible change in circumstances since he landed in France as he has established himself as one of the most feared strikers in the Ligue 1. 

Balogun's first half strike against Auxerre , his seventh of the season, meant only PSG superstars Kylian Mbappe and Nyemar, Lille's Jonathan David and Lorient's Terem Moffi have managed to score more goals than him in the French top-flight. 

The Hale End Academy graduate coolly slotted into the bottom corner to break the deadlock after a well-time through ball from Arber Zeneli in the 29th minute. 

Auxerre got back into it as M'Baye Niang restored parity after the Reims defenders left too much space for him in the 33rd minute. 

Three minutes to the end of the game, Junya Ito tapped the ball into an empty goal to hand Reims their first home win of the season. 

Reims have lost twice in their last ten matches in the division, thanks to Balogun's goals, but on the flip side they have been drawing too many games and as a result sit fifteenth in the 20-team table twelve matches into the season. 

Igho Kingsley

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