Tyreece John-Jules and Folarin Balogun once again made their case for a League Cup opportunity by getting involved in a couple of goals for Arsenal against Wolves on Friday.

The strike duo both started in the most recent Premier League 2 fixture, and they showed exactly what they can do if given a chance.

It took less than a minute for Balogun to get on the scoresheet, assisted up by John-Jules, who was returning the favour after Balogun set up two goals for him last Saturday.

Though Wolves came back into the game and scored an equaliser, John-Jules and Balogun again combined for a second goal. John-Jules performed a backheel flick to set up his centre-forward partner who fired home with his weak foot.

Balogun should have had a third as he stretched to finish a chance only to be pulled back by his shirt in the box. The referee ignored his legitimate calls for a penalty. The striker also could’ve scored another in the first half after having another good chance well saved when through on goal.

Unfortunately, Wolves scored an injury-time equaliser, but the result was always going to be secondary on this occasion, particularly with Hector Bellerin and Kieran Tierney returning from injury.

Folarin Balogun’s two goals against Wolves last night, assisted by Tyreece John-Jules.

You can question the keeping for the second but he was unsighted in fairness. Nice flick from John-Jules in the build up. #AFCpic.twitter.com/PmWH8eFR8c

— Dan Critchlow (@afcDW) September 21, 2019

It’s hard to think of what could happen for John-Jules and Balogun to put themselves in a better position to play against Nottingham Forest on Tuesday.

Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been playing every game and needs a rest, Alexandre Lacazette is injured and Eddie Nketiah is on loan. John-Jules and Balogun now have two goals and two assists each in two games, and they’re carrying a team that are giving them very little support.

Without meaning to dig any individual player out, the wingers and midfielders have very rarely been involved in scoring or assisting goals for the u23s recently.

There are actually only two goals this season Balogun and John-Jules haven’t been involved in, one of which was scored by Emile Smith Rowe, who is technically a first-team player now.

U23 goal involvement this season (most recent first)

• Balogun goal, John-Jules assist
• Balogun goal, John-Jules assist
• John-Jules goal, Balogun assist
• John-Jules goal, Balogun assist
• Balogun goal, no assist
• Burton goal, Balogun assist
• Burton goal, Coyle assist
• John-Jules goal, Bola assist
• Smith Rowe goal, Coyle assist
• Tormey goal, Balogun assist
• Balogun goal, no assist
• Balogun goal, no assist
• Balogun goal, no assist

In pre-season, John-Jules scored a brace against Boreham Wood before travelling with the first team on tour and assisting Nketiah’s winner against Bayern Munich. Balogun remained with the u23s and scored six goals in his final three games before the new campaign.

There’s next to no argument against starting one or both of them on Tuesday. The League Cup really isn’t important enough to require extreme caution.