Arsenal hosted Monaco yesterday at the Emirates Stadium for their Matchday 6 clash in the new UEFA Champions League format.

Thanks to an outstanding individual performance from Bukayo Saka—who scored twice and played a key role in forcing captain Thilo Kehrer’s own goal—the Gunners secured an emphatic 3-0 victory, setting the stage for the knockout phase.

While Arsenal dominated the first half, Monaco came out in the second with an aggressive, attacking approach that momentarily unsettled Mikel Arteta’s men. However, the French side lacked a player with the presence of Folarin Balogun up front.

Balogun Faces Surgery

At just 23-years-old, Balogun is known for his dynamic offensive abilities both on and off the ball. Unfortunately for Monaco and the USMNT striker, his season has been derailed by a shoulder injury, which has kept him out of action and will now require surgery.

“The decision is that Balo will have surgery on his shoulder, and we don’t know exactly how long it will take,” Monaco coach Adolf Hütter admitted to the media. “It’s a shame for him and a shame for us.” Hütter’s remarks confirm that Balogun’s recovery will take longer than initially expected.

Back in mid-October, it was reported that Balogun’s shoulder injury would require roughly two months of recovery. However, with that timeline now surpassed, surgery has become unavoidable. This setback leaves Monaco searching for ways to adapt in his absence.

It also casts uncertainty over Balogun’s availability for the USMNT under Mauricio Pochettino. The striker has already missed the quarterfinals of the Concacaf Nations League, and it remains unclear whether he will be fit in time for the Final Four, where the U.S. will face Panama on March 20, 2025, at SoFi Stadium.