Mikel Arteta admits one Arsenal talent could still leave despite impressing in pre-season outing

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Mikel Arteta has now suggested that one Arsenal player with international experience could leave the club despite recent contract deal. 

Arsenal are set to be busy in the transfer window in the coming weeks. 

Mikel Arteta has some big decisions to make in the goalkeeping department. 

Arsenal have already signed David Raya on a permanent basis this summer. However, the situation beyond the Spaniard’s place as the Gunners’ No. 1 is far less certain. 

Aaron Ramsdale is keen to leave Arsenal, having fallen behind Raya in the pecking order. The 5-cap England international needs to be playing regular football at this stage in his career, and will not get the game time he needs at the Emirates Stadium.

Karl Hein is also keen to get more game time. The 30-cap Estonia international was the North London club’s third choice between the sticks last season, and will not want the same role in the squad again this time around. 

Arsenal were able to convince Hein to sign a new contract this summer, and with both Raya and Ramsdale currently on an extended holiday having featured in the latter stages of Euro 2024, the 22-year-old is currently the Gunners’ temporary No. 1.

Hein turned in a sensational performance in Arsenal’s recently friendly against Bournemouth, pulling off two saves in the penalty shootout that decided the match in his side’s favour. 

• READ MORE: Arsenal pre-season tour 2024 – destination, fixtures, how to watch and more

Arsenal plan for Karl Hein

Whilst Hein did sign a new deal with Arsenal, it may well have been on the condition that he is allowed to leave the club on loan this summer.

Arteta has now indicated that that may well be the plan for the Hale End academy graduate.

As quoted by Football.London, when asked if he was happy to still have Hein at the club, the Spanish coach said: “Very happy for him. Obviously he had to be very patient and wait for his opportunity. He came back from the holidays really sharp, really prepared — he knew that he had big games ahead of him, and he started tonight and I think he had a really good performance.”

When pressed on if the young shot-stopper will be loaned out this summer, Arteta added: “That’s the conversation that we are having at the moment. Obviously, David [Raya] and Aaron [Ramsdale] are away at the moment and we are really really short in the position, but we want to develop our players — especially a player like Karl with a big potential and a big future ahead of him — and he needs to play games, so we’re going to explore that option as well.”