Folarin Balogun insists it was always his plan to play for Arsenal's first-team.

The 19-year-old penned a new long-term contract on Monday.

Several clubs had shown an interest in signing Balogun, but the talented forward only had eyes for the Gunners.

"So I came here at nine," Balogun told Arsenal Media. "I remember being at Hale End and coming into the training ground for the first time and seeing all the older boys training and I was just thinking to myself, 'These are the same guys you see on TV.'

"From that age, straight away, I just had a drive and ambition to be that guy eventually. As time has gone on, I've seen loads of different coaches help me in my career. Now I could just see that the work I've put in over the years is starting to pay off.

"Kwame Ampadu, when I first came here at [under] 18s, he showed me tough love. But it was definitely something I needed at the time. Even now, Steve Bould he's managed me really well this season, making sure that I took more of a leadership role, which is something I need to learn as well.

"My ambitions for next season are to make an impact in the first team. I see it as something that I've taken upon myself to be able to go over there and make an impact, not just be one of the numbers.

"I want to be somebody who eventually leads that group, so I would say I have quite driven ambitions. We'll see if I can make them happen."