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Folarin Balogun backed to stay at Arsenal by Mikel Arteta following his first senior goal

 (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
(Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta believes teenage star Folarin Balogun wants to stay at Arsenal after scoring his first goal for the club against Molde.

Balogun has been heavily linked with a move away from the Gunners as his contract expires at the end of the season.

A number of sides are keen to sign the 19-year-old forward on a free, with Brentford and Southampton tracking him.

Arteta, however, wants Balogun to stay and is giving him more minutes in the first-team as a result.

The forward has taken his chance, scoring his first senior goal by finding the net against Molde on Thursday, and Arteta believes he wants to stay in north London.

“Well deserved for the boy. He’s working really hard,” said Arteta, when asked about Balogun’s goal in the 3-0 win.

“He had some difficult months with all the speculation around him, he’s handled the situation in a really mature way.

“He wants to stay, we want him to stay. We gave him the opportunity and he took it straight away.”

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