Balogun reveals his decision to leave Arsenal was beyond Arteta

AS Monaco starlet Folarin Balogun has spoken about why he opted to leave Arsenal during the summer transfer window. The Hale End academy graduate enjoyed an excellent loan spell in Ligue 1 with Reims last season, netting 21 league goals.

The north Londoners then decided to strike when the iron was hot, opting to sell Balogun in a summer that saw them spend over £200million on incomings. The 22-year-old's exit was their biggest windfall of the window, with Monaco shelling out €40million (£34million), with a 17.5% sell-on clause, to land the talented striker.

Now, the USMNT star has opened up on his new chapter, admitting that he didn't speak a whole lot to Gunners boss Mikel Arteta before leaving the Emirates Stadium. When asked what Arteta said to him in the summer, Balogun told ESPN: "He didn't really say much, he just said that when I came back he just said well done, and he encouraged me to keep going.

"Then me coming back in a pre-season, it was just more about me seeing whether I fit into his plans and seeing if I can continue to play some games. He said that he would try to get me involved as best as he could, but of course, he also told me that the people higher up were making decisions on me and seeing what would be best for me.

"So the conversations between me and him were good, but it was more about the club, what they wanted to do."

Balogun, who has netted three goals and provided one assist in five league appearances this term, went on to claim that the whole situation felt like it was all out of his hands. He added: "It (his future being uncertain) wasn't something that made me feel anxious, it was just more a case of seeing what wanted to be done.”