Arsenal U21s midfielder Louie Copley has confirmed that he suffered a ruptured ACL during the first-team friendly against Real Betis.
Copley, who is usually a midfielder, was deployed at right-back against Betis as he came on at the start of the second half but he had to be replaced after just ten minutes by Theo Julienne.
The injury suffered by Copley is set to prevent him from securing a loan move in the near future.
He wrote on Instagram: ‘Words can’t describe how I’m feeling right now, to making my pre-season debut for the team I’ve grown up supporting to finding out I’ve ruptured my ACL.
‘The road ahead won’t be easy but I’ll give everything to come back stronger and better.’
Copley spent the second half of last season on loan at Crawley Town and was previously named on the bench for the Arsenal first-team against Club Brugge.
The 19-year-old has previously featured prominently for Arsenal U21s and has often been given the captain’s armband.