Injuries have troubled Arsenal since before the first game of this season.
Mikel Arteta hasn’t been able to choose from a fully fit squad at any point this campaign, and that has had an impact on some results.
Now, Arsenal’s terrible luck with injuries seems to have transferred to one of their loan players as well – Karl Hein.
Who is the one Arsenal academy player you thought would become a superstar but never did?
Arsenal loanee Karl Hein undergoes surgery after a season-ending injury
Arsenal sent Hein on loan to German side Werder Bremen in August last year.
The Estonia international showed a lot of promise in the academy over the years, but he has failed to break into the first team.
After a season out on loan in Spain at Real Valladolid, Hein got a chance in Bremen, but he only managed two appearances there all campaign.
Now, to make things worse, the goalkeeper has suffered a thumb injury that is going to keep him out of action for the remainder of the season.
Werder Bremen confirmed that Hein underwent surgery on Tuesday in London, and he will continue his rehabilitation in the English capital.
The German club’s head coach, Daniel Thioune, said on their website: “I feel incredibly sorry for Karl. He’s a top goalkeeper who has fully embraced his role with us and given everything in every single training session.
“We hope the operation and the rehabilitation afterwards go well and that he can get back on the pitch as soon as possible. We’ll support him in every way we can.”
Hein also posted a picture of himself in hospital after the procedure. He wrote on Instagram: “Part of the journey. Lions don’t recover like humans. Back very soon!”
Arsenal are set to lose Karl Hein on a free transfer
When Hein joined Werder Bremen on loan last summer, the goalkeeper had already entered the final year of his Arsenal contract.
It is unclear if the Gunners even attempted to extend his deal to protect his future, but no agreement has been made official.
That means Hein will leave Arsenal at the end of his contract in July, which is a real shame as he did impress previously.
The Estonian was outstanding under Mikel Arteta in friendlies a few years ago, but he just hasn’t been able to go up a level since.
It will now be interesting to see where Hein will end up after his contract expires. Only time will tell if Werder Bremen will take him back on a free transfer.
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