Folarin Balogun now reveals what Mikel Arteta said to him before he left Arsenal
Folarin Balogun recently discussed his exit from Arsenal during the summer and his last discussions with Mikel Arteta.
In an interview with ESPN, Balogun disclosed that Arteta didn’t have much to say when he came back from Stade Reims.
Subsequently, Balogun mentioned that it later became evident that a decision was going to be taken by the higher-ups in the Arsenal hierarchy.
Balogun said: “He didn’t really say much, he just said that when I came back he just said well done, and he encouraged me to keep going.
“Then me coming back in a preseason, it was just more about me seeing whether I fit into his plans and seeing if I can continue to play some games.
“He said that he would try to get me involved as best as he could.
“But of course he also told me that the people higher up were making decisions on me and seeing what would be best for me.
“So the conversations between me and him were good, but it was more about the club, what they wanted to do.”
Balogun says he had a good relationship with Arteta when he left Arsenal
Naturally, Arsenal fans might assume that Arteta had participated in those discussions alongside individuals like Edu Gaspar.
Based on Balogun’s remarks, it appears that Arsenal may have reached their decision quite early in the summer.
Gabriel Jesus and Eddie Nketiah were always going to be challenging to displace, and there were no substantial rumors about their departures. Additionally, given Balogun’s reluctance to settle for a backup role, Arteta and Arsenal’s decision appeared straightforward.
The question of whether Arsenal will come to regret Balogun’s departure remains open.
Furthermore, some pundits have recently questioned whether the club should have considered letting Eddie Nketiah go. Nketiah has faced criticism due to his recent performance, and after the City game, Ian Wright suggested that Kai Havertz might be a better focal point for the team.
Folarin Balogun now reveals what Mikel Arteta said to him before he left Arsenal