Folarin Balogun reveals he always gives his former Arsenal teammates his support in the title race

Arsenal academy graduate Folarin Balogun has revealed that he has remained in touch with his former teammates since leaving North London for AS Monaco last summer.

The 22-year-old left the Gunners after 15 years having struggled to break into the first-team and is hoping to keep impressing in Ligue 1.

Arsenal have been doing fine without Balogun and are second in the Premier League table after 29 games, with two points between them and leaders Liverpool.

They are looking to win the title for the first time since 2004 and Balogun has commented after being asked if he has been supporting his old teammates.

“I give them my support,” he replied when asked if he has been supporting his former teammate in the title race.

“I still speak with a lot of them and when I’m in London we still go out for food.

“There is a good relationship there. I have also asked them about their experience playing in the Champions League having been out of it for so long and they’ve said that it is something that you would want to experience and something that is almost a once-in-a-lifetime experience so I’m looking forward to hopefully being a part of it.”

Balogun has not reached the same heights from his time on loan with Reims last term when he notched 21 goals in 37 league games, with just seven goals in 22 league games to his name since joining Monaco.

While he could end up wishing he had found a way to remain at Arsenal if manager Mikel Arteta ends up leading his side to the title, the American would have struggled to feature regularly for the Gunners this term had he not secured an exit.

The likes of Reiss Nelson, Eddie Nketiah and Emile Smith Rowe have seen very limited playing opportunities this term, and leaving Arsenal was the best decision for Balogun.