Arsenal youngster Folarin Balogun sent Mikel Arteta a stern January transfer message following his goal in the England under-21s' 3-1 win over Czech Republic.
The 20-year-old admitted that he wants a new challenge having felt that as if he's reached his ceiling at youth level amid minimal opportunities under the Gunners boss.
Balogun has made just three appearances this season under Arteta, totalling just 77 minutes of first-team action.
The New York-born striker has been excellent for Arsenal's under-23s since his debut in 2017, directly contributing towards 42 goals in 58 games.
While London Colney is clearly doing its job in producing some of the UK's most exciting talent, the north Londoners must solve Balogun's January transfer conundrum fairly otherwise Arsenal risk losing the trust of other academy prospects who want to see a pathway into the first-team.
Hush Kerai, Chris Davison and Guy Clarke spoke live on The Arsenal Way to discuss why Arteta must consider an overseas loan move for Balogun ahead of the January transfer window.
Clarke kickstarted the chat by noting a former City youth player that the Gunners boss would've worked with and how his pathway into the Germany national team should act as a template.
"There's a player in Lucas Nmecha who came through Manchester City's ranks and Mikel Arteta would have played a part in his development," he began.
"He was loaned out into the Championship with Preston North End, who I saw him whilst he was playing at Preston, and he always looked good player who was was rough around the edges."
Clarke then added how a move abroad oppose to a typical EFL loan allowed Nmecha to spread his wings and take off.
"Then he seems to have gone abroad and he's really found a name for himself," he continued.
"Last season with Anderlecht he scored 18 goals in 32 games and then got a move to Wolfsburg this year and since been in the Germany squad.
"I actually think maybe a foreign loan for Balogun into say the Belgian league or something like that may well suit his game more than going into the rough and tumble of League one or the Championship and getting knocked about a bit."
Clarke then concluded by sending Balogun a message, tell him to look at Nmecha's pathway to international prominence at the age of just 22-years-old.
"[Nmecha] May well be a kind of a player there that he can look at," he said. "To see that he made it into the Germany squad and actually that he is a rounded player."
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