REUTERS/Andrew Boyers
The Premier League season is right around the corner, but an Arsenal player has been left facing a lengthy spell on the sidelines after confirming he ruptured his ACL during pre-season, delivering a cruel blow just hours after what should have been one of the proudest moments of his career.
The player had been thrust into first-team action against Real Betis, coming off the bench at right-back for the start of the second half, only to be forced off again just ten minutes later and replaced by Theo Julienne.
Every Arsenal fan’s worst fears have now been confirmed, with the injury now set to derail any hopes of him securing Premier League minutes, or even a loan move for the season ahead.
Arsenal Midfielder Confirms ACL Injury
Mikel Arteta
Mikel Arteta
The player in question is 19-year-old Louie Copley, the Arsenal Under-21s midfielder, who took to Instagram to reveal the extent of his injury. Copley, usually deployed in midfield, had been asked to fill in at right-back against the La Liga side, before being withdrawn.The youngester wrote:
Arsenal Players and Mikel Arteta With the Premier League Trophy
Arsenal Players and Mikel Arteta With the Premier League Trophy
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Before the setback, Copley had been enjoying a promising run in Arsenal's pre-season programme. He’d already featured at right-back before, in the Gunners' opening friendly against Girona.
He caught the eye with several forward-thinking contributions down the right flank, offering something far different to their usual crop of full-backs: Jurien Timber, Piero Hincapie, Riccardo Calafiori, and Ben White, who have all been nurtured into the position from centre-back since arriving at the club.
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Ranking Arsenal's greatest players in history featuring Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira and Thierry Henry
The Englishman spent the second half of last season out on loan at Crawley Town and had previously tasted first-team involvement with the Gunners when he was named among the substitutes for Arsenal's clash with Club Brugge.
At youth level, Copley has been a regular fixture for the Under-21s and has frequently worn the captain's armband, underlining the leadership qualities that have marked him out as one to watch within the academy setup.