Arsenal keeper Turner tips Balogun to 'be great addition' to Gunners

Arsenal and USA goalkeeper Matt Turner has tipped team-mate for club and country Folarin Balogun to fit right in at the Emirates Stadium when he returns from loan in France.

The New York-born striker had represented England at youth level before declaring for the USA in May.

He has since been included - alongside Turner - in a 24-man squad for the upcoming CONCACAF Nations League finals games against Mexico and one of Panama or Canada.

And his team-mate Turner thinks that he will be a great addition to the north London side once he returns from loan at Ligue 1 side Reims, where he has been scoring goals for fun all season.

The 21-year-old scored a stunning 21 goals in 37 games for Will Still's side this term, outperforming the likes of megastars Lionel Messi and Neymar, as well as former Gunner Alexis Sanchez.

And Turner insisted that the returning forward was a player that Arsenal fans should get 'excited about'.

'I had a pre-season with him at Arsenal and we developed a pretty good relationship but then he left to go on loan,' the stopper began. 'He scored lots of goals on his loan spell and he has done really, really well.

'It's someone to be excited about and I think that knowing his personality, he'll fit in well with the group.

'Flo is a really talented player that's going to bring a fiery edge to the group, he's a super competitive guy and that fits in well with the people we have in this locker room already.

'Again, he's going to be a great addition and creates more competition at that No 9 spot and when you have competition like that it elevates everyone else's game.'

Arsenal spent £45million on Gabriel Jesus last summer - an investment that transformed their forward line, bringing pressure and intensity from the front as the Gunners mounted a challenge for the Premier League crown.

Eddie Nketiah played a supporting role for much of the season, although he impressed when called upon in the Brazilian's absence through injury, scoring four and assisting another in a run of nine starts.

As such, Balogun's return to north London could pose something of a quandary to Mikel Arteta, who now has three strikers that he will likely have to fit into two spots.

Furthermore, the club are reportedly keen on bringing in another goalscoring front man this summer, which could create further roadblocks to regular game time for the likes of Nketiah and Balogun.

And Turner foresees a similar situation with the USMNT, claiming that he will have to be patient for his chance to impress - but anticipates his team-mate will flourish when such an opportunity presents itself.

'He's going to have to earn his right to play just like everybody else does and when he gets his chance hopefully he puts the ball in the back of the net,' the goalkeeper said of his prospects with the national side.

'With Flo it's a great situation, it's another dual-national that the federation has gone out and been able to come play and that's not just the federation but it speaks really highly of the people we have in the locker room.'