When asked about his conversations with Arteta after returning from loan at Reims, Balogun said: "He didn’t really say much, he just said that when I came back he just said well done, and he encouraged me to keep going.
"Then me coming back in a preseason, it was just more about me seeing whether I fit into his plans and seeing if I can continue to play some games.
“He said that he would try to get me involved as best as he could, but of course he also told me that the people higher up were making decisions on me and seeing what would be best for me. So the conversations between me and him were good, but it was more about the club, what they wanted to do.”
Then we probably don’t sign a player as well.
It is what it is at this point.
No hard feelings.
Hope he has a great season
I am just assuming here that Arsenal board made a decision that in the summer transfer window if a good offer comes their way with favourable terms and conditions then sell but if not we would continue with him through the season. Same happened with Gabriel, there were rumors floating around him about to get offers from saudi and serie A and most likely the board asked Arteta not to play gabriel to have him injury free to have a smooth transfer if a suitable offer comes. They did the same with balogun despite of jesus being injured at that time. If u remember when Arsenal left gabriel out of the team sheet they were also looking for CBs in the market if the deal happens. As you can see Gabriel was named in the starting XI after the summer transfer window closed.