Arsenal banned from playing Folarin Balogun against Tottenham despite recalling striker from Middlesbrough loan

ARSENAL will NOT be able to call upon forward Folarin Balogun against Tottenham on Thursday despite recalling him from his loan spell at Middlesbrough.

The 20-year-old youngster's stint with the North Yorkshire outfit came to an end following the conclusion of the regular Championship season last weekend.

But despite returning to Arsenal, Football London are reporting that he will not be eligible to play against Spurs.

This is because "no player will be permitted to return outside of a window and play first-team football".

The only way in which a player can circumnavigate this ruling is the "early recall of a goalkeeper in exceptional circumstances".

Balogun, an England U21 international, scored three times in 20 games for Boro.

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He even featured in their FA Cup victory over Tottenham earlier this season.

But Chris Wilder's side were eventually eliminated from the competition by Chelsea in the quarter-finals.

Boro also narrowly missed out on a Championship play-off spot, finishing in seventh place, five points adrift of Luton.

Meanwhile, a win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium would guarantee Arsenal a top four place.

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But a victory for Spurs would reduce the gap to just two points with two games remaining.

The Gunners' final Premier League matches of the season come away at Newcastle and at home to Everton.

Antonio Conte's men host Burnley before travelling to already relegated Norwich on the final day.

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