Only four U-21 players from European big 5 leagues have scored more than ten league goals since the beginning of 2022/23 seasons. Two of these players are currently playing for Arsenal and the third is still contracted to the London club. Who are these top scorers?
The player ahead of them all is Folarin Jerry Balogun. These 21-year-old forward is signed to Arsenal but is current playing on loan at Stade Reims in French first tier. The Nigerian-born striker has netted 15 goals in Ligue 1 this season. This makes him the youngest player with 10 more goals in France’s top flight. He is also the joint highest scoring foreigner (along with Canada’s Jonathan David in the league. The former Arsenal academy player is expected to return to the Gunners at the end of this season.
Balogun is followed by Jamal Musiala. This German 2022 World Cup participant has got 11 goals and 8 assists in the 2022/23 season. Unlike Balogun, 20-year-old Musiala is yet to net hat trick this season. Interestingly, the attacking midfielder has the same number of league goals as Arsenal’s Gabriel Teodoro Martinelli Silva. However, this Brazilian has fewer assists (2) within the period. The former Ituano left winger joined the Gunners in 2019 summer and has featured consistently for the London club.
The fourth player on this list is Bukayo Saka who, like Folarin Balogun, came from Arsenal’s academy. The English right winger has scored 10 goals and made 9 assists in the English Premier League since the beginning of the season. Saka, with the same market value of one hundred million Euros (according to Transfermarkt) as Musiala has also not got any hat trick in local leagues but has been consistent in creating and scoring goals for arsenal.
Who will be the next U-21 star on the list?