Per Mertesacker provides update on Arsenal striker

Arsenal's academy manager Per Mertesacker has acknowledged that Folarin Balogun could be loaned out at the turn of the year.

Balogun signed a new long-term deal with the Gunners earlier this year, but he has yet to become a regular part of the first-team.

The youngster has played just 77 minutes of senior football this season, and he has largely spent time with the Under-23s.

Mertesacker has now admitted that Balogun could be loaned out in January such that he can get extra exposure at a higher level.

He said via football.london: "He still plays 23s football and probably most likely will go on loan in January because you need extra exposure to get to that next level so he needs to make that transition."

Balogun started the opening game of the current campaign after Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette were sidelined.

He struggled to make any impact against Brentford as the Gunners slumped to a 2-0 defeat. Balogun has since played only 18 minutes.

Eddie Nketiah has been preferred ahead of him in recent months. It appears a no-brainer to loan him out to secure regular first-team minutes.