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      Most prolific loan goalscorers ever as Arsenal’s Folarin Balogun outshines Mbappe… but he’s not No1

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      ARSENAL academy graduate Folarin Balogun has emerged as one of the most prolific goalscorers in Europe this season.The 21-year-old is currently enjoying a successful loan spell in France with Reims.
      Folarin Balogun is the top goalscorer in Ligue 1Credit: Getty
      And his red-hot form has seen him rack up an impressive total of 15 goals in 22 league games, making him the top scorer in Ligue 1.
      He has outscored the likes of Kylian Mbappe, Lionel Messi, Neymar, Alexandre Lacazette and Wissam Ben Yedder so far this season, leaving many Arsenal fans excited for his return to north London.
      Balogun has already established himself among the highest-scoring on-loan strikers of all-time.
      Those who have achieved similar success include the likes of Romelu Lukaku, Emmanuel Adebayor and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
      Read More on Football
      SunSport has looked back on some of those memorable loan spells from the past decade to see how Balogun compares.
      Duvan Zapata – 23 goals (2018/19)
      Duvan Zapata scored 23 goals for Atalanta during his loan spellCredit: Getty Images – Getty
      In July 2018, Sampdoria agreed to loan Zapata to Serie A rivals Atalanta for two seasons.
      The Colombia international scored 23 goals in 37 league appearances during his first season in Bergamo – only Sampdoria striker Fabio Quagliarella netted more.
      Atalanta finished third in the table that season, 16 points above Sampdoria in ninth.
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      Following his two-year loan, Zapata signed a permanent contract with the Black and Blues and has been with the club ever since.
      Bafetimbi Gomis – 20 goals (2016/17)
      Bafetimbi Gomis scored 20 goals for MarseilleCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Gomis was loaned out by then-Premier League club Swansea to Marseille in 2016.
      By the end of his season-long loan at the Stade Velodrome he had netted 20 goals in 31 Ligue 1 games, making him one of the league’s top scorers.
      He is now playing for Turkish Super Lig club Galatasaray.
      Paco Alcacer – 18 goals (2018/19)
      Paco Alcacer joined Dortmund permanently after his successful loan spellCredit: Getty – Contributor
      Alcacer joined Borussia Dortmund on a season-long loan in August 2018 after falling out of favour at Barcelona.
      By the end of the 2018/19 campaign he had scored 18 goals in 26 Bundesliga appearances – only Robert Lewandowski scored more.
      Dortmund chiefs were so impressed by his form that they decided to sign him on a permanent deal midway through the campaign, so in February 2019 the German giants signed him for around £20million.
      Alcacer now plays for Sharjah in the UAE Pro League.
      Emmanuel Adebayor – 17 goals (2011/12)
      Emmanuel Adebayor joined Tottenham on loan after leaving ArsenalCredit: Graham Hughes – The Times
      In 2011, then-Manchester City star Adebayor was loaned to Tottenham – just two years after leaving Arsenal.
      The striker scored 17 times for Spurs to help them to a fourth-place finish, but his parent club went on to win the Premier League.
      He eventually signed a permanent deal with the Lilywhites before moving across London to Crystal Palace in 2016.
      Adebayor now plays for Togolese club AC Semassi.
      Romelu Lukaku – 17 goals (2012/13)
      Romelu Lukaku spent a season on loan at West Brom from ChelseaCredit: Getty
      Lukaku joined West Brom on loan from Chelsea in August 2012, one year after signing for the west London club from Anderlecht.
      He scored 17 goals in 35 games for the Baggies, but despite his impressive form he was loaned out again the following season.
      On the final day of the 2013 summer transfer window, Lukaku joined Everton on another season-long loan.
      During his time at Goodison Park he scored 15 goals in 33 appearances.
      As a result, the Toffees signed him for a club-record fee of £28m the following summer.
      Following his time at Everton, Lukaku enjoyed spells with Manchester United and Inter Milan respectively before returning to Chelsea for a club record fee of £97.5million in 2021.
      But after falling out of favour he returned to Inter Milan on a season-long loan last summer.
      Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang – 16 goals (2011/12)
      Aubameyang scored 16 goals in less than six months for St EtienneCredit: AFP – Getty
      In January 2011, Aubameyang joined St Etienne on a six-month loan from AC Milan.
      He scored 16 goals for the French side during that short space of time and his loan was subsequently extended for the following season as a result before he signed on a permanent basis.
      The striker then shot to stardom at Borussia Dortmund before joining Arsenal in January 2018.
      But, three years later his contract with the Gunners was terminated following a series of disciplinary breaches.
      Read More on The Sun
      In February 2022, he joined Barcelona on a free transfer but returned to London to join Chelsea just seven months later.
      He has since fallen down the pecking order at Stamford Bridge and is expected to leave during the summer transfer window. More

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      Dream Team gaffers would be wise to consider ditching Gabriel Martinelli in current form – so would Mikel Arteta!

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      MIKEL ARTETA’S consistent team selections have been a key feature of Arsenal’s title challenge this season.The Spaniard has remained fiercely loyal to his first-choice XI to date and understandably so, given the Gunners are currently top the table with 51 points.
      However, he now has a decision to make in regards to the left wing – one shared by a considerable chunk of Dream Team gaffers.
      Gabriel Martinelli’s (£3.2m) flying start to the campaign was a key factor in Arsenal establishing themselves as genuine title contenders this term, something few would have predicted in the summer.
      The 21-year-old scored three goals in his first five games as Arteta’s troops burst out of the blocks with five consecutive wins.
      And the Brazilian commenced the post-World Cup restart in similar fashion with two goals in his first two outings having returned from Qatar.
      Martinelli has seven goals and three assists this seasonCredit: GETTY
      However, his form has tailed off slightly in recent weeks, as evidenced by his Dream Team returns – two points from five games represents a significant drop-off from an asset who averaged almost five points-per-game throughout the first quarter of the season.
      Martinelli’s dip in form has coincided with Leandro Trossard’s (£3.7m) arrival at the Emirates and the Belgium international has looked lively in a red shirt so far.
      The 28-year-old scored Arsenal’s goal against Brentford on Saturday four minutes after replacing Martinelli and plenty of fans are calling for the January signing to start ahead of his younger team-mate for Wednesday night’s massive fixture against Manchester City at the Emirates.
      It’s a big call for Arteta because his consistent team selections have largely been justified but with the Gunners having now failed to win in three games he will surely be tempted to make adjustments.
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      A few 25-minute cameos may even do Martinelli some good.
      He made his name as an impact substitute and so reverting to that role for a few weeks may help him rediscover the form he exhibited at the start of the season.
      Many Arsenal fans want Trossard to start ahead of Martinelli on Wednesday
      Arsenal have a game in hand on Pep Guardiola’s side but defeat in midweek would put the two sides level on points – there’s no denying the significance of the fixture.
      Arteta has more reasons to remain loyal to Martinelli than Dream Team managers, who don’t have to worry about things such a team cohesion or player morale.
      The youngster is now the 12th-best asset in his position having previously peaked at fourth among forwards.
      Gaffers will be hard pressed to find a like-for-like replacement at the same value but with the top-bracket forwards providing so many points – Harry Kane (£8.2m), Marcus Rashford (£6.1m), etc – a restructure seems wise.
      Martinelli may well be a smart option again later in the season but his returns in recent weeks have simply been way below par. More

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      Ex-Arsenal star Francis Coquelin stretchered off in tears after horror knee injury leaves him writhing in pain

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      EX-ARSENAL midfielder Francis Coquelin was carried off in tears after collapsing with a horror injury in Villarreal’s 1-0 home defeat against Barcelona.The Frenchman, 31, twisted his knee as he fell awkwardly in Sunday night’s LaLiga clash.

      Francis Coquelin knew straight away he was in serious troubleCredit: .
      Francis Coquelin was carried off after twisting badly as he fellCredit: Getty
      Players from both teams looked shocked as the former Under-21 international writhed in obvious pain.
      He need two minutes of treatment but it was obvious he could not continue.
      And Coquelin was clapped off as he departed on a stretcher with his hands holding his head.
      Villarreal replaced him with Samuel Chukwueze ten minutes before the interval.
      READ MORE ARSENAL NEWS
      LaLiga leaders Barca led through Pedri’s brilliant 17th minute opener.
      And they held on comfortably enough to move 11 points clear of Real Madrid.
      Barcelona had started with ex-Arsenal target Franck Kessie and Manchester United’s dream option Frenkie de Jong in midfield, due to an injury for legend Sergio Busquets.
      Ex-Leeds winger Raphinha, who was linked to Old Trafford in the January transfer window, partnered Robert Lewandowski up front.
      Most read in Football
      But it was Spain midfielder Pedri who hit the only goal a brilliant team effort.
      Jules Kounde, De Jong and Raphinha helped feed Pedri, who swapped instant passes with Lewandowski before smashing home.
      The extent of Coquelin’s injury remained clear after the final whistle.
      He was with the Gunners from 2008-2018 before joining Villarreal from Valencia three years ago. More

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      Arsenal ‘open transfer talks’ with teenage Brazil striker Vitor Roque in bid to beat Chelsea, Barcelona and PSG

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      ARSENAL have reportedly “opened talks” with Athletico Paranaense over a deal for Brazilian teenager Vitor Roque.The young striker, 17, is currently representing his country at U20 level at the South American age group championships.
      Vitor Roque has scored six goals at the South American U20 ChampionshipsCredit: AFP
      And he has been one of the star players to come out of the tournament, scoring six goals on the road to the final – which takes place between Brazil and Uruguay on Sunday night.
      Roque turns 18 later this month, meaning he will be eligible to move to Europe in the summer transfer window.
      And he has been linked with a host of huge clubs including Barcelona, Chelsea, Paris Saint-Germain and Newcastle.
      According to Goal, Barcelona are leading the way in the race to secure his signature.
      READ MORE ON ARSENAL
      They believe he is a suitable replacement for Memphis Depay.
      But the same report states that Arsenal’s sporting director Edu has approached the player’s agent about a potential deal.
      However, the Gunners will be forced to pay a substantial fee if they are to bring the talented forward to the Emirates.
      Athletico Paranaense are said to be holding out for his release clause of £53million.
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      Known as “Tigrinho” in Brazil, Roque has already been likened to legendary striker Ronaldo and Uruguayan forward Luis Suarez.
      He has made 36 appearances for Paranaense, contributing seven goals and three assists.
      On top of his club form, he has bagged six goals in nine appearances for Brazil’s U20s. More

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      Arsenal join Marcus Thuram transfer hunt as Newcastle circle for Borussia Monchengladbach winger who is free this summer

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      ARSENAL have joined Newcastle in the race to sign Marcus Thuram, according to reports.The Toon’s interest in the Frenchman dates back to last year, with Eddie Howe and Co having considered a January swoop.
      Marcus Thuram has scored ten goals in the Bundesliga this seasonCredit: Getty
      Borussia Monchengladbach managed to retain their star man until at least the end of the season.
      But with his contract set to expire, plenty of would-be suitors are circling around the highly-rated attacker.
      According to Spanish paper Sport, Arsenal are “on alert” due to Thuram’s situation.
      In addition to Newcastle, the Gunners will also face Premier League competition from Aston Villa, managed by former boss Unai Emery.
      READ MORE ON ARSENAL
      Bringing him to England will be a challenge, however, with Barcelona also in the mix.
      Thuram’s legendary father Lilian played for the Catalan side alongside their current boss Xavi between 2006 and 2008.
      Quizzed about the possibility of his son following in his footsteps, Lilian told RAC1 last month: “Any player dreams of playing for Barca.”
      The LaLiga leaders have repeatedly targeted the free agent market in recent seasons – signing Franck Kessie, Andreas Christensen, Sergio Aguero and Memphis Depay upon the expiry of their previous contracts.
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      Also reportedly tracking Thuram are Real Madrid, Atletico Madrid, Borussia Dortmund, Sevilla and Inter Milan.
      He has scored 10 goals in 18 Bundesliga appearances this term.
      His form earned him a place in France’s 26-man World Cup squad, and he even assisted a goal for Kylian Mbappe in the final against Argentina.
      Lilian Thuram played for Barcelona between 2006 and 2008Credit: Getty Images – Getty More

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      Arsenal player ratings: Super-sub Trossard impresses while Martinelli and Nketiah struggle to make an impact

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      ARSENAL failed to get back to winning ways after being held to a 1-1 draw by in-form Brentford.After a lacklustre first half, the Gunners bounced back after the break to produce some promising attacks.
      Trossard scored his first Arsenal goalCredit: AP
      New boy Leandro Trossard scored his first goal for the Gunners in the 66th minute, shortly after he replaced Gabriel Martinelli.
      But, Brentford’s Ivan Toney levelled the score just eight minutes later.
      For Mikel Arteta, it was a disappointing day at the office.
      Here’s how SunSport’s Emillia Hawkins rated the performance.
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      Aaron Ramsdale – 6
      After a quiet start to the game, the Arsenal goalkeeper was called into action as Brentford began to pose a threat late in the first half.
      While he was calm on the ball throughout the majority of the match, he appeared to panic in the build-up to the equaliser as Toney headed the ball into the back of the net at the far post.
      Ben White – 6
      Following a dip in form, White has bounced back to produce a good performance against a stubborn Brentford side.
      William Saliba – 6
      The Frenchman did well to keep Toney quiet at the start of the game, but he struggled to win any aerial duels against Brentford’s star striker.
      Most read in Football
      Gabriel Magalhaes – 6
      Another solid performance from the Arsenal defender. Gabriel was calm and composed while playing out from the back.
      Oleksandr Zinchenko – 7
      Arguably one of Arsenal’s best players on the day, Zinchenko looked to play out from the back at any given opportunity and he did so with great composure.
      He also made some crucial interceptions and blocks to prevent a dangerous Brentford attack.
      Granit Xhaka – 6
      Xhaka and Partey put in a solid midfield performance once again, but they were sometimes outnumbered by the Bees.
      Thomas Partey – 6
      Partey did an excellent job when it came to breaking down Brentford’s counter attacks.
      He was also composed on the ball and looked to create chances with some good passes.
      Martin Odegaard – 6
      Another impressive display from the Arsenal captain, who controlled the midfield throughout the game.
      His clever pass through to Saka in the 67th minute ultimately led to Trossard’s opening goal.
      Bukayo Saka – 6
      Saka dominated the ball on the right, causing numerous problems for Brentford full-back Rico Henry.
      The young star set up the opening goal as he shrugged off his marker before squaring the ball to Trossard at the back post.
      Eddie Nketiah – 5
      The striker struggled to make the most of his chances throughout, playing one pass too many on some occasions.
      Gabriel Martinelli – 5
      Martinelli had a great start to the game as his movement off the ball led to plenty of goalscoring opportunities.
      But, he started to drop off during the second half and a few sloppy passes cost Arsenal some missed chances.
      Substitutes:
      Leandro Trossard (for Martinelli, 61) – 8
      The winger was electric as soon as he stepped onto the pitch midway through the second half and he was rewarded with his first Arsenal goal.
      Read More on The Sun
      Trossard broke the deadlock just six minutes after being introduced with a simple finish into the bottom left corner of the goal.
      Fabio Vieira (for Xhaka, 81) – 6
      He failed to make an impact after replacing Xhaka in the second half. More

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      Arsenal fans demand player’s son is snapped up by academy as proud dad shares footage of him scoring three wondergoals

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      ARSENAL fans are urging the club to snap up Mohamed Elneny’s son after the star shared footage of him scoring three times.The Egyptian midfielder looks set to miss the rest of the season through injury.
      Mohamed Elneny has shared footage of his son’s exploits on the pitchCredit: Getty
      Now Arsenal fans are desperate for the Gunners to snap-up the prodigyCredit: Instagram
      The 30-year-old has a knee problem and has undergone surgery to fix it.
      However, despite being sidelined, the former Basel ace is still getting his footy fix through his young boy.
      And Elneny was “proud” as punch as he shared clips of his son on Instagram.
      The first one showed the youngster skipping past a defender before firing home tight-footed from range.
      READ MORE ON ARSENAL
      He captioned it with: “Love u Loka what a goal.”
      The kid, who was wearing the No25 shirt, then found the net again as the footage showed him gliding past two defenders before stroking home past the keeper.
      And his dad wrote while sharing the clip: “Another one wow so proud of you.”
      But it got even better as he went on to claim his hat-trick by again dancing past two opposition players before rifling home.
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      And that led to his proud as punch dad writing: “What a boy you are Malek. so proud to be your Dad.”
      Following Elneny’s Instagram posts, which were even liked by team-mate Bukayo Saka, a host of supporters then urged the Gunners to get the child prodigy signed up.
      One wrote: “Bring him to the Arsenal academy, dad!”
      Another commented: “Let him come to Arsenal.”
      A fellow follower said: “Drop him soon to Hale End.”
      While another wrote: “Send this to Per [Mertesacker] and get him in the academy.” More

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      Arsenal and Newcastle considering ’emergency transfer’ for long-term Man Utd target after making contact

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      ARSENAL and Newcastle have emerged as frontrunners to complete a transfer for a long-term Manchester United target, according to reports.The midfielder, 27, has long been linked with a move to the Premier League, but fresh reports suggest a move could be to the Gunners or Magpies instead of the Red Devils.
      Both Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal and Eddie Howe’s Newcastle have reportedly contacted a Lazio midfielderCredit: Getty
      Sergej Milinkovic-Savic could leave this summer for up to £53millionCredit: Getty
      The star in question, Sergej Milinkovic-Savic, faces an uncertain future at current club Lazio due to his contract now having less than 18 months to run.
      According to Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera via Sport Witness, Lazio are growing increasingly concerned about the possibility of losing the player for free.
      They are said to remain “confident” they can strike a deal on new terms, but there remain issues to be ironed out such as a release clause.
      This is where Arsenal and Newcastle step in.
      READ MORE ON ARSENAL
      Both are reportedly prepared to offer the Serbian an “emergency transfer” in the summer.

      The outlet claims both sides have been “on” Milinkovic-Savic, which would ultimately give them an advantage over long-term admirers Man Utd.
      And with an estimated asking price of £45-£53million, he is well within the price range of both.
      Mikel Arteta’s side have been searching for a new midfielder to bolster their ranks, with Declan Rice and Moises Caicedo heavily linked.
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      However, the Lazio star represents a cheaper option, while Eddie Howe has been searching for upgrades to his team as they prepare for a European campaign next season.
      Milinkovic-Savic has a wealth of experience in Europe, having played 46 times in the Europa League and Champions League. More