Nuno Tavares of Marseille and Folarin Balogun of Reims, both on loan from Arsenal, scored goals for their respective teams in Marseille’s 4-1 victory against Reims on Sunday, August 8, 2022.
Both of the young players got off to flawless individual beginnings with their first goals for their respective sides while on loan in Ligue 1.
The hosts took the lead after 13 minutes thanks to an own goal from Wout Faes, and Tavares extended their advantage in the final seconds of the first half. The aggressive Stade Velodrome crowd rose to their feet as the left back cut back inside and fired a devastating effort with his weaker right foot from 20 yards.
With 30 minutes remaining, Luis Suarez (a 24-year-old Colombian footballer) added a third goal for Marseille, but Balogun, who had been brought on as a substitute in the second half, pulled one back ten minutes later.
The youthful attacker immediately adjusted himself to get a firm header on the diverted ball after Leonardo Balerdi botched his clearance while attempting to stop an Alexis Flips cross, leaving Ruben Blanco isolated between the sticks.
Suarez added OM’s fourth in stoppage time as the hosts completed an impressive victory in their first game under new manager Igor Tudor, whose name was chanted by home supporters before the game.
After joining from Benfica last season, Tavares said in Arsenal’s Amazon Prime All or Nothing documentary that he experienced homesickness. At the end of July, he agreed to a loan with Marseille.
While at Middlesbrough for the second half of the previous season, Balogun failed to make an impression on Teesside and will be aiming for a more successful stint in France.
Nuno Tavares
Nuno Albertino Varela Tavares, a Portuguese professional football player on loan from Premier League team Arsenal, plays left-back for Ligue 1 club Marseille. He was born on January 26, 2000.
Tavares participated in the Amazon Original sports documentary All or Nothing: Amazon followed the team’s 2021–22 season by covering the activities of the club’s players, coaches, and staff off the field and in the locker room.
Mikel Arteta made a big decision on selling Nuno Travares
Nuno Tavares’ first season at Arsenal has been, to put it mildly, intriguing. He was acquired from Benfica last summer to fill in for Kieran Tierney at left-back. Unfortunately for him, he could not establish himself in Mikel Arteta’s team ahead of the 2022-2023 season. Hence, he had to join Marseille on loan for the rest of the season.
Nevertheless, not too long ago, it seemed like the Portugal U21 international was fighting for his Gunner’s future, let alone a spot in the starting lineup, after being yanked off in the first half of his only two starts in 2022 against Nottingham Forest and Crystal Palace.
In an explanation regarding replacing the defense against Forest and Palace for his benefit, coach Mikel Arteta said: “Obviously, I speak with the players and I spoke with Nuno because I care very much how they feel.
“We are to support them and advance their careers. He is aware that this was a move that affected him, but he also knows that it was made with the team’s best interests in mind, and that’s what I thought it was. Since there is a great opportunity to learn a lot during those time in your profession, he respects that and now needs to respond to the circumstances.”
What position does Tavares play?
Tomás Franco Tavares (born 7 March 2001), is a professional football player from Portugal who plays in the left-back position.
How much did Arsenal sign Nuno Tavares
He reportedly agreed to a five-year, $8.5 million contract with Arsenal F.C. in 2021, with a $1.7 million average yearly pay.
Folarin Balogun
Folarin Jerry Balogun, a striker for Ligue 1 club Reims, where he is on loan from Premier League club Arsenal, was born on July 3, 2001. He is an English young international representative who was born in the United States.
How good is Folarin Balogun?
Balogun is renowned for his two-footedness, quickness, and technique. Due to his pace and deft movement, Martin Keown has compared Balogun to the famous Ian Wright of Arsenal. Balogun stated that Edinson Cavani and Robert Lewandowski serve as sources of motivation in his first interview for Middlesbrough.
