Olivier Giroud has sent a surprise message to Folarin Balogun after the Arsenal star’s impressive campaign at Reims.
The 21-year-old has played 10 first-team games for the Gunners but was allowed to join the Ligue 1 club on loan last summer in order to get regular playing time.
Balogun has been outstanding at Reims, scoring 15 goals in Ligue 1 already this season, which is only four fewer than Kylian Mbappe.
Giroud, meanwhile, swapped Arsenal for Chelsea by the time Balogun made his first-team breakthrough but the Frenchman insists he remembers watching his fellow striker during youth-team games for the Gunners.
In his video message to Balogun which was shown on Canal+, Giroud said: ‘Yo, what’s up, baby Gunner? I hope you are good.
‘I am glad to see you banging goals in Ligue 1 in France.
‘I remember you when you played for the youth teams in Arsenal. I am very happy for you and you deserve to be there.
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‘Carry on like that. Keep it up. Wish you all the best, bro. Take care.’
After watching the video, Balogun said: ‘Wow, it’s very nice to see this. I didn’t expect to see this.
‘It’s good. He has played at the highest levels in Europe. ‘There are not a lot of top strikers like Giroud. When I look at Giroud, I look at to his link-up play.’
