Video: Folarin Balogun sends message to Arteta with jaw-dropping 97th-minute equaliser for Arsenal U23s
Footage of Arsenal starlet Folarin Balogun finding the net in absolutely stunning fashion for the club’s U23s on Saturday has begun turning heads online.
Arsenal’s historic comeback
Kevin Betsy’s men were back in action a little over 24 hours ago.
On the back of an impressive opening to the campaign, the Gunners welcomed Leicester City to north London, hopeful of maintaining their spot atop the Premier League 2 table.
And, upon the final whistle sounding, this is precisely what Arsenal managed, in the most spectacular fashion imaginable.
It was Leicester who opened the scoring on the day, when Terell Pennant slotted home his first goal of the season just beyond the hour mark.
And the Foxes soon doubled their lead courtesy of Tawanda Maswanhise, before Benjamin Nelson, at the time, appeared to have put the finishing touches on an altogether impressive result with a 3rd a little over ten minutes from time.
SWINDON, ENGLAND – SEPTEMBER 07: Kevin Betsy, Head Coach of Arsenal U23 reacts during the Papa John’s Trophy match between Swindon Town and Arsenal U21 at County Ground on September 07, 2021 in Swindon, England. (Photo by Alex Burstow/Getty Images)
Arsenal, however, had altogether different ideas…
First, with 91 minutes on the clock, Tim Akinola pulled what was widely viewed as little more than a consolation back for the Gunners.
When Omari Hutchinson added a 2nd three minutes into time added on, though, Leicester hearts were no doubt in mouths.
In turn, few of a Foxes persuasion could believe what they were witnessing when, with a full 97 minutes on the clock, Folarin Balogun completed the most mind-boggling of comebacks with an Arsenal 3rd:
WOW! WHAT A COMEBACK! 😱
Trailing by three goals deep into stoppage time…
No problem for #AFCU23! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/RH41PkoITR
— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) November 6, 2021
Balogun brilliance
As outlined above, though, Balogun’s latest strike actually proved noteworthy in far more than simply securing a share of the spoils for Arsenal’s U23s on Saturday.
This comes with the 20-year-old, of course familiar with the first-team setup at the Emirates, having also provided Mikel Arteta with a timely reminder of his remarkable talents in front of goal.
After being picked out in the area with his back to goal, Balogun made use of his first touch to flick the ball in the air with his right, before quickly adjusting his feet and directing an unstoppable volley home with his left.
Check out the youngster’s piece of individual brilliance – no doubt set to result in fresh calls for a more prolonged opportunity at senior level – below:
The moment we completed our comeback from 3-0 down…@Balogun deep into stoppage time! 🔥 pic.twitter.com/NZAvJFLHRz
— Arsenal Academy (@ArsenalAcademy) November 7, 2021
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Premier League table
| # | Team | MP | D | P |
| 1 | Chelsea FC | 11 | 23 | 26 |
| 2 | Manchester City | 11 | 16 | 23 |
| 3 | Liverpool FC | 10 | 21 | 22 |
| 4 | West Ham United | 10 | 9 | 20 |
| 5 | Manchester United | 11 | 2 | 17 |
| 6 | Brighton & Hove Albion | 11 | 0 | 17 |
| 7 | Arsenal FC | 10 | -1 | 17 |
| 8 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 11 | -1 | 16 |
| 9 | Crystal Palace | 11 | 1 | 15 |
| 10 | Tottenham Hotspur | 10 | -7 | 15 |
| 11 | Everton FC | 10 | 0 | 14 |
| 12 | Leicester City | 10 | -2 | 14 |
| 13 | Southampton FC | 11 | -2 | 14 |
| 14 | Brentford FC | 11 | -1 | 12 |
| 15 | Aston Villa | 11 | -6 | 10 |
| 16 | Watford FC | 10 | -6 | 10 |
| 17 | Leeds United | 10 | -7 | 10 |
| 18 | Burnley FC | 11 | -6 | 8 |
| 19 | Newcastle United | 11 | -12 | 5 |
| 20 | Norwich City | 11 | -21 | 5 |
| Player | Team | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 10 |
| Vardy, Jamie | Leicester City | 7 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 6 |
| Mane, Sadio | Liverpool FC | 6 |
| Raphinha | Leeds United | 5 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 4 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 4 |
| Smith-Rowe, Emile | Arsenal FC | 4 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 4 |
| Ronaldo, Cristiano | Manchester United | 4 |
| Aubameyang, Pierre-Emerick | Arsenal FC | 4 |
| Son, Heung Min | Tottenham Hotspur | 4 |
| Zaha, Wilfried | Crystal Palace | 4 |
| Firmino, Roberto | Liverpool FC | 4 |
| Jota, Diogo | Liverpool FC | 4 |
| Fornals, Pablo | West Ham United | 4 |
| Wilson, Callum | Newcastle United | 4 |
| Maupay, Neal | Brighton & Hove Albion | 4 |
| Cornet, Maxwel | Burnley FC | 4 |
| Hwang, Hee-chan | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 4 |
| Player | Team | Red Cards | Yellow Cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 1 | 4 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 0 | 5 |
| Skipp, Oliver | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 5 |
| McGinn, John | Aston Villa | 0 | 4 |
| Richarlison | Everton FC | 0 | 4 |
| Westwood, Ashley | Burnley FC | 0 | 4 |
| Moreno, Rodrigo | Leeds United | 0 | 4 |
| Ritchie, Matt | Newcastle United | 0 | 4 |
| Duffy, Shane | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 4 |
| Tarkowski, James | Burnley FC | 0 | 4 |
| Laporte, Aymeric | Manchester City | 1 | 3 |
| Shaw, Luke | Manchester United | 0 | 4 |
| Veltman, Joel | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 4 |
| Fred | Manchester United | 0 | 4 |
| Mings, Tyrone | Aston Villa | 0 | 4 |
| Lallana, Adam | Brighton & Hove Albion | 0 | 4 |
| Lascelles, Jamaal | Newcastle United | 0 | 4 |
| Brownhill, Josh | Burnley FC | 0 | 4 |
| Romero, Cristian | Tottenham Hotspur | 0 | 4 |
| Sambi Lokonga, Albert | Arsenal FC | 0 | 4 |
| Player | Team | Assists |
|---|---|---|
| Salah, Mohamed | Liverpool FC | 7 |
| Pogba, Paul | Manchester United | 7 |
| Jesus, Gabriel | Manchester City | 5 |
| Kovacic, Mateo | Chelsea FC | 5 |
| Doucoure, Abdoulaye | Everton FC | 4 |
| Bowen, Jarrod | West Ham United | 4 |
| Alexander-Arnold, Trent | Liverpool FC | 4 |
| Antonio, Michail | West Ham United | 3 |
| Fernandes, Bruno | Manchester United | 3 |
| James, Reece | Chelsea FC | 3 |
| Benrahma, Said | West Ham United | 3 |
| Dennis, Emmanuel | Watford FC | 3 |
| Saint-Maximin, Allan | Newcastle United | 3 |
| Lowton, Matthew | Burnley FC | 3 |
| Rice, Declan | West Ham United | 3 |
| Smith-Rowe, Emile | Arsenal FC | 2 |
| Gallagher, Conor | Crystal Palace | 2 |
| Townsend, Andros | Everton FC | 2 |
| King, Joshua | Watford FC | 2 |
| Ings, Danny | Aston Villa | 2 |
