The competition for places at Arsenal is as big as it ever has been under Mikel Arteta – just ask Aaron Ramsdale. The goalkeeper has lost his place int he side without really doing anything wrong.
Gabriel Jesus, a serial Premier League winner with Manchester City, is no longer first choice with Kai Havertz picked ahead. Emile Smith-Rowe could leave Arsenal because he is not getting the game time.
If established, Premier League players with international caps are struggling to get game time under Arteta – imagine how hard it must be for a young 21-year-old goalkeeper, in the form of Karl Hein.
Since joining Arsenal’s academy in 2018, Hein has managed one senior outing for The Gunners. That is despite being a 27-time Estonia international. He has warmed the bench for Arsenal at times this term.
Karl Hein admits he could leave Arsenal over lack of game time
Now on international duty, Hein is preparing to take on Poland in a Euro 2024 play-off qualifier. A crucial game, in which Hein will surely start. He is his country’s no.1, despite lacking game time at club level.
The winner of Estonia and Poland will then take on the winner of Finland or Wales – for a place in the group stages of Euro 2024 this summer. A massive opportunity for Arsena;’s third-choice goalkeeper.
Being no.1 for Estonia will have given Hein a taste of game time – something which he told Delfi Sport he desperately needs. In turn, hinting that he could decide to leave The Emirates at the end of the season.
“There was interest [in January], but the club didn’t let me this time. I need playing time as a young goalkeeper, but right now I need to help Arsenal and that’s my responsibility and I’m happy to do it.”
Hein contract situation means Arsenal could lose him on a free
The Estonian stopper – who joined Arsenal six years ago in the summer of 2018 as a teenager – is only contracted to The Gunners until June 2024. It means that he is likely to leave the club on a free transfer.
Even more so, it might be that if Estonia do pull off a shock result over the next fortnight, then Hein could be playing at Euro 2024 without a club. That is, unless Arsenal choose to hand him a new deal.
He continued to train in the first team and has caught the eye, with coaches applauding him recently. But Hein simply has to leave Arsenal in the coming months, in order to allow him to pursue a career.
As he says, there was interest in January and the chances are that some Championship clubs may make a move for Hein at the end of the season. There could also be interest from Europe, too. One to watch.
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