Arsenal captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang will miss the Carabao Cup quarter-final clash with holders Manchester City, the club’s official website has confirmed. The striker’s calf strain has led some Gunners fans to call on manager Mikel Arteta to let youngster Folarin Balogun deputise.
The Gunners have endured their worst league start to an English top-flight campaign since 1974-75, when they won only three of their first 14 matches.
Arsenal have accumulated 14 points from as many games this term and sit 15th. They also have the fourth-worst attacking record in the division this season.
In fact, their figure of 12 is the lowest among sides above the relegation zone.
Cup clash
Aubameyang was the last player to score for Arsenal from open play. His absence has led some Arsenal fans on Twitter to call for Balogun to be involved against City.
Balogun – classy numbers
Although only 19, Balogun has been an involved in ten goals from his 16 Arsenal appearances overall. However six of them are from his ten Premier League 2 games.
Despite that, when Balogun featured for the senior side he has contributed to three goals in four Europa League games. He scored one of Arsenal’s three goals against Molde before grabbing a goal and an assist against Dundalk on what was his last game for the senior team.
The teenager is a man in form. He scored the winner against Leicester City in his previous outing for the club’s development squad.
Balogun has a tremendous record overall for the young Gunners. He was involved in 46 goals from 41 appearances for the U18s (38 goals, eight assists).
With the U23s, he has 17 goals and six assists from 41 games. His impressive numbers have seen him enter the international stage.
Balogun scored three goals in ten appearances for England U18s, having managed two goals from four appearances with USA U18s. In October, he made his U20 debut for England in a 2-0 win over Wales.
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