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Football London
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Tashan Deniran-Alleyne

Folarin Balogun's £50m valuation, deals announced as trio handed debuts - Arsenal loan latest

The January transfer window provided Arsenal with an opportunity to reassess what's best for their loanees during the second half of the season.

And it's safe to say the Gunners made the most of that chance as a number of players were recalled before heading back out on loan whilst Salah-Eddine Oulad M'Hand is back for good following an injury-disrupted time with Hull City and Harry Clarke joined Ipswich Town on a permanent deal.

Then on transfer deadline day, a host of loan deals were announced - three in relation to the Arsenal first-team - which means altogether the club has 29 players plying their trade elsewhere between now and the end of the season as some look for regular game time and others to aid their development.

READ MORE: What Man City's charge for alleged Premier League rule breach means for Arsenal in title race

Now, for one reason or another, neither Nicolas Pepe, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Cedric Soares, Marquinhos, Miguel Azeez, Tyreece John-Jules, Ovie Ejeheri, Mika Biereth, Kido Taylor-Hart, Billy Vigar, Marcelo Flores, Nikolaj Moller, Tom Smith, Mazeed Ogungbo or Taylor Foran weren't in action for their respective loan clubs over the weekend.

However, Charlie Patino was one of several Arsenal loan stars flying the flag, although in a losing effort as Chuba Akpom inspired Middlesbrough to a 3-0 win over Blackpool. Brooke Norton-Cuffy started Coventry City's loss against West Brom and Tim Akinola's Chesterfield were beaten by Boreham Wood.

North of the border, Alex Kirk couldn't prevent Ayr United from losing a Scottish Championship top-of-the-table clash against Queens Park and Ryan Alebiosu played the whole 90 minutes as Kilmarnock were beaten 3-1 by Livingston.

Across Europe, it was defeat at home to Nice for Nuno Tavares and Marseille, whilst Runar Alex Runarsson was beaten twice as Alanyaspor lost 2-1 against relegation-threatened Istanbulspor to remain sit just three points clear of the drop zone in the Turkish Super Lig.

With Omar Rekik in line to make his debut for Wigan Athletic and Pablo Mari potentially in action for Serie A side Monza this evening (Monday 6 February) football.london has rounded up the main headlines for the rest of Arsenal's loanees from the past week.

Debuts

There were as many as three Arsenal loanees making a first appearance for their respective loan clubs over the weekend with Albert Sambi Lokonga coming on as a second-half substitute as Crystal Palace lost against Manchester United and Nathan Butler-Oyedeji starting Accrington Stanley's 3-0 home defeat by Lincoln City.

But Arthur Okonkwo was the standout performer of the trio as he saved a penalty in the shootout to help Sturm Graz eliminate Red Bull Salzburg from the Austrian Cup at the quarter-final stage.

Speaking to Goal.com ahead of the cup tie, the 21-year-old outlined his long-term ambition: "I just want to give my best every day," he said. "Being a footballer you want to play in front of the crowds every week. I don't want to sit on a bench. I always want to be playing, to improve myself and one day become Arsenal’s No.1. This is my biggest goal. This is still my dream."

Balogun 'worth £50m'

Having netted a last-gasp equaliser against Paris Saint-Germain last Sunday, Folarin Balogun followed that up with his first career hat-trick as Reims came from behind to beat Lorient a few days later, thus becoming Ligue 1's leading scorer - ahead of Kylian Mbappe - in the process.

This prompted some Arsenal fans to flock to social media to heap praise on the talented youngster, with one section claiming that he is currently Europe's best centre-forward in his age bracket and others insisting he is now worth at least £50m in today's transfer climate.

However, Sunday's fixture away at Auxerre was a more subdued one as the young striker wasn't able to add to his tally of 14 goals in French football's top-flight and he might be looking over his shoulder with former teammate Alexandre Lacazette now just one behind in the standings.

Trusty winner

One Arsenal loanee quietly having a good season is Auston Trusty. And he made amends for scoring an own-goal in the FA Cup fourth-round replay against Blackburn Rovers by netting in the right end in the seventh minute of second half injury time to help Birmingham City overcome Swansea City.

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