Arsenal are edging closer to the business end of the season.
The Gunners are preparing for arguably their most important game of the campaign when they take on Slavia Prague in their Europa League quarter final second leg on Thursday.
With qualification for European football via the Premier League now looking highly unlikely, it seems as though winning the competition is their best bet of securing any form of continental matches next season, meaning they will have to score on their trip to Prague.
Despite the focus firmly being on that undoubtedly crucial match that doesn't mean that plans aren't already being made ahead of the transfer market opening at the end of this season.
Mikel Arteta and Edu have already drawn up a list of targets that they want to secure in the summer, but it seems as though they are close to getting their first deal over the line before the window has even begun.
After looking for months like he was going to leave Arsenal on a free transfer reports emerged last week that Folarin Balogun is close to signing an agreement to extend his contract for another four season.
football.london understands that the assurances of first team football provided by Arteta played a huge part in ensuring the deal was signed.
So with this in mind here we take a look at exactly how the 19-year-old could fit into the Gunners' first team next campaign.
Arsenal's striking situation
Before we get into the specifics of that though it is worth taking a quick look at Arsenal's striking situation as they head into next season.
Mikel Arteta has chopped and changed formations between a 3-4-3, a 4-2-3-1 and even a 4-3-3 at times, but one thing that has remained consistent throughout his time in charge at the club is that he has only played with one orthodox centre forward.
At various times throughout this campaign that position has been filled by one of Balogun himself, Eddie Nketiah, Alexandre Lacazette, Gabriel Martinelli or Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
While the Gabon striker has not hit the heights of the early part of his Arsenal career since signing his contract extension in September 2020, there can be no doubting that he will be a part of Arteta's plans going into next season.
He hasn't always been in the team in recent weeks, but Aubameyang is still the club's captain and best finisher and will likely play a crucial part until his deal expires in 2023.
With Arteta having admitted that he doesn't want to have a bloated squad again going into next season, it seems as though there will only be room for three centre forwards among his group of players in 2021/22.
So with Aubameyang having taken up one and Balogun set to fill another that leaves just one place available between Gabriel Martinelli, Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah.
The latter duo both have one year remaining on their contract at the end of this season and with the Gunners currently looking unlikely to offer either an extension, it seems as though Martinelli will be the third and final player competing for the number nine spot in their starting XI next campaign.
Hale End FC
One way that the Gunners could line up with Balogun in the squad next season could be to throw some of their most exciting attacking youngsters into the forward line all at once.
Emile Smith Rowe has been a revelation since coming into the side at Christmas and with Martin Odegaard's future uncertain he is currently the only orthodox number 10 in the Arsenal squad going into the coming campaign.
Meanwhile, Bukayo Saka has gone from strength to strength since being switched over to the right flank over the festive period notching up five assists and five goals to force his way into Gareth Southgate's plans for the Euros.
This would leave a spot open for Gabriel Martinelli to come in on the left hand side.
While Arteta has hinted that he sees the Brazilian's future as a centre forward, he has played his best football during his time in north London on the left wing.
With this quartet in attack the Gunners would undoubtedly have one of the youngest and most exciting front lines in European football.
Hale End FC front line: Saka, Smith Rowe, Martinelli; Balogun.
Trusting in experience
However, given Mikel Arteta's comments about throwing too many young players into the side at once in recent weeks it seems unlikely that we will see that line up much next season.
“I’m asking you to be patient because we have a lot of players at 19 and 20 years old," he said after the 3-0 victory over Sheffield United on Sunday.
“When you compare that with a lot of Premier League clubs at the top end it’s not common."
With this in mind it seems far more likely that the Spaniard will look to surround Balogun with a host of experienced faces as he brings him into the side.
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang may be one of the options going forward but with crucial goals in the FA Cup semi final and final matches last season, the Gunners captain has proved he is more than capable of being effective on the left.
Over on the right Nicolas Pepe could be used as a more senior option. The Ivorian was in the side as Balogun burst onto the scene in the Europa League earlier this campaign, and could potentially reprise the role again.
Trust in experience XI: Pepe, Smith Rowe, Aubameyang; Balogun.
