Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta insists that Florian Balogun is a big part of their future.

Balogun, who signed a long-term extension last April, is enjoying a successful short-term loan spell with Championship side Middlesbrough.

Arteta was asked about the youngster's development during his first press conference after the international break.

The young Spanish coach spoke in glowing terms about Balogun's development, stating: "I think Flo is doing what he needed to do, and probably we should have done it a little bit earlier. It is always a bit difficult to time when is the best moment to do that. But he's having the right exposure, he's playing in a different formation and sometimes a different role under a manager and a club with a huge history.

"You can see how he is developing, so this is giving us information. This is going to give us more detail about what is the next best move for him to keep developing, because he has (developed) and we want him to be part of our future."

He added on the player's current level: "The step was too big, from what he was doing to the Premier League, and you could see that. It's not fair on him to asses just in certain moments whether he can do it or not.

"So he needed a pathway, he needs that exposure. He needs to go through good and difficult moments, and he needs to be able to adapt and find himself in the dressing room, and develop the importance that is required to play at this level. I think he is doing all of that really well. "