Flo Balogun: Page 2 - The Arsenal discussion community: One More in the Tolly

Flo Balogun

FEBravo

For context Lacazette is second in Ligue 1, tied with Mbappe and one goal behind Balogun. So yes, he's very talented and we can be hopeful, but there's still a long way to go

flobaba

Claudius re: Jesus, it's not the price, it's the lack of goals. And that's fair, in my opinion.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Two or three dodgy performances from Jesus this season as well.

Not trying to shit on him, he's class, but when he's not scoring he's also guilty of doing too much Lacazetting sometimes.

flobaba

What do you mean by Lacazetting?

I think he is super helpful whether he is scoring goals or not. He adds an insane amount of chaos into the mix which frees up space for the entire forward line.

The way our midfield clicks into place when Zinchenko inserts himself is exactly how our attack is transformed with a Jesus involved. Frees up space for everyone else. They have to pick their poison. Leave Saka one v one? Or leave Jesus one v one. And on his day, Martinelli can be a headache too. Jesus collapses the entire defence, and then can kick it out for open 3-point attempt - to use a basketball analogy. Even Xhaka is free to waltz into the box more often and more effectively.
He is our key.

Soon (hopefully) these boys will be feasting again when Jesus comes back in town.

So I love what he is and what he does.

But.

As a striker your job description is basically something like: "must be able to score goals. Lots and lots of goals". To put it bluntly: That is why he is no longer in the Brazilian national team - he does not score enough goals.

We need him to step it up a bit.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

flobaba too much work too deep sometimes. I think he had a couple of stinkers this season and Soton away was one of those.

e.g. He was through on goal but fluffed that whole situation as he was too tired from all the work in deeper areas.

goon

Soton away he was basically assaulted all game by a WWE performance from their defender. Should have had a penalty too.

He has had a couple of poor games but that's a bit of an odd criticism when he's been superb the rest of the time.

Like I said in the top scorer thread, his lack of goals didn't worry me. It's simply not possible to generate as much xG and shots per game as he did and not score plenty of goals.

QuincyAbeyie

Not sure if it's worrying or reassuring that the reason to be hopeful is that he misses so many chances that it seems impossible to keep doing it. 😆

goon

😆

It's reassuring for sure. Statistically he'd have to be one of the worst finishers of all time not to get a decent haul. I don't think that's the case, he's been unlucky with quite a few of his efforts.

Think I asked this before, but do they have post shot xG for strikers? Would be interesting to see.

Big Willie

goon It's reassuring for sure. Statistically he'd have to be one of the worst finishers of all time not to get a decent haul.

Agreed 100%. If a striker is getting lots of chances but not scoring enough, usually it's only a matter of time before it clicks. I'd be a lot more worried if he was just not getting into any good positions or wasn't being found when he did. Especially as a lack of shots or goalscoring opportunities are mostly as a result of either

Poor movement by the striker,
Poor passing ability from his teammates in finding him,
A lack of trust from his team mates where they avoid passing to him even when he's free, which is the worst of all.

MistaT

Scored again
https://streamin.me/v/d0177bfd

GooneriC

Wish we had him as an option now.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

GooneriC
More dynamic than Eddie imo

Meatwad

that's always been the case. he just has more about him. eddie is just a finisher.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

Lol that defending though.

Meatwad

do you lol when wan-bissaka leaves eddie unmarked for a free header or rolls a sunday leaguish west ham defender? on most goals in every league there is a defender that should have done much better.

Sicario2 - Tier 1

Meatwad

Yes, but it’s a farmers league for a reason.

Everyone’s worst player Laca is like 3rd top goalscorer there this season.

Jed

He’s better than Eddie. I like both but Balo is going to be elite. Not sure I can say the same for Eddie.

Burnwinter

I don't think it's demonstrated by anything that happens in Ligue 1 that Balogun is even Arsenal quality let alone better than Nketiah.

Balogun's doing really well, but this league is ridiculously better defensively, not just in terms of individual defenders but it's also radically different tactically. Nketiah is working in very difficult conditions every single match.

Meatwad

he missed a pen on saturday that would have taken him to 16.

https://www.francebleu.fr/sports/football/interview-jean-pierre-caillot-le-soutien-des-supporters-du-stade-de-reims-me-fait-chaud-au-coeur-5230783

A Stade de Reims player, Folarin Balogun, top scorer in Ligue 1. Is this a detail for you or is it anything but a detail…?

This once again demonstrates the keen eye of our recruiters. Folarin Balogun, we almost signed him for the club a few years ago when he was unsure whether he would have his first professional contract at Arsenal. We clung to it, we continued to be in contact with him. Today he is here. Everyone discovers Folarin Balogun who was an illustrious unknown for the supporters a year ago, just like Hugo Ekitiké, just like Boulaye Dia... It's all the strength of the recruitment cell to always have a new player to take on. the place of the one who leaves. And today, if Folarin Balogun is there, it is not the result of chance. You have to look at the quality of his goals and his work. Me what impresses me in this boy, and it is perhaps the English school, it's that he doesn't stay like a cone in front of the goal to push the balls. He works a lot for the team.

Today, is it possible to keep Folarin Balogun on loan for an additional season?

I think it's impossible. The rules of the game are very clear: these are boys who, when they join us, know that they are there to reveal themselves and this is a step for them. So even if I don't decide for him, either Folarin will return to his club Arsenal to have his chance, or he will be loaned out again or even transferred to a very high level club. He is a player who must go even higher. So obviously, we will ask the question to him, who feels good here, and to his club but I think that today he will have to take a step. So we are already working on the future "Balogun" the day he will be taken to leave the club. But hey, if he and his club agree to do another year at Stade de Reims, we will do everything to make it happen.

Bring Back Kerrea Gilbert

He's coming for Eddie's spot.

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