Folarin Balogun may have accidentally done Arsenal a big favour on deadline day

Forget about the disappointment around Arsenal’s transfer business for a minute.

The Gunners head into the season short in attack, after failing in their pursuit for Julian Alvarez and deciding not to sign a replacement for Gabriel Martinelli.

But with a neutral hat on, that was surely the most dramatic, chaotic car-crash of a deadline day in years.

And at the centre of it all was former Arsenal striker Folarin Balogun.

Here’s how it all unfolded.

Folarin Balogun deadline day saga explained

The Hale End graduate was set to move from Monaco to Everton — who also signed Ainsley Maitland-Niles on deadline day — in a €50million total package deal.

However, the move was suddenly put in jeopardy after Everton flagged concerns around Balogun’s fitness during the medical.

The player’s entourage and Monaco insisted he is fully fit and ready to go. Everton decided to pivot and attempt to sign Joshua Kirkzee on loan from Manchester United.

Meanwhile, Chelsea, aware of Monaco’s need to sell, swooped in and agreed a £47million deal for Monaco midfielder Lamine Camara.

Arsenal’s London rivals identified Camara as the ideal replacement for Enzo Fernandez, who completed his move to Manchester City as expected.

United then reject Everton’s bid for Zirkzee so they go back to Monaco and decide to sign Balogun anyway.

Monaco, preferring to sell Balogun than Camara, then go back on their word with Chelsea and stunningly cancel the deal for the midfielder.

Chelsea are left furious with Monaco and are left without a replacement for Fernandez.

Arsenal fans are obviously loving that, especially with Chelsea being tipped as their main title contenders this season.

Their midfield options now consist of Moises Caicedo, Romeo Lavia, Valentin Barco, Jordan Henderson and Reece James — a right-back being used in central midfield.

It’s not bad by any means but they’ve lost a really key player in Fernandez without adequately replacing him.

What makes it even funnier is that Balogun didn’t even end up signing for Everton.

As per The Bobble, the 25-year-old had a change of heart and refused to sign the deal before departing the Everton training ground.

Everyone’s a loser in this. It’s a disaster for Monaco who were desperate to sell. Chelsea are obviously left short. Everton are left extremely thin up front with just Thierno Barry as a senior striker option after selling Beto to Fiorentina.

Even Arsenal lose out. They were set to earn around £7million from the sell-on clause built into his Monaco deal.

And honestly, it’s a shame we don’t get to see Balogun back in England. A lot of fans would’ve been excited by that prospect.

But aside from that, in indirectly weakening Chelsea he has effectively done his former club a favour.

Cheers, Flo. Once a Gunner always a Gunner.