Sport
Arsenal loan star heralded as ‘great’ despite La Liga club’s torrid season so far
The Gunners goalkeeper is earning plaudits despite his side’s poor run of La Liga form.
Arsenal goalkeeper Karl Hein is managing to make a name for himself during a loan spell at Real Valladolid this season, despite the Spanish club’s torrid start to the campaign.
The 22-year-old joined the La Liga outfit on a season-long loan in August and has become a permanent fixture in the starting XI. Hein has played every minute of the league so far as he gains regular first team playing time for the first time in his career.
Valladolid have won just one of their opening nine La Liga fixtures this season, losing six and drawing two. That has left the club 19th in the division, just one place and two points off Las Palmas at the foot of the table.
Hein has managed to keep two clean sheets in those outings, both 0-0 draws against CD Leganes and Real Sociedad, but has also been in between the sticks for a 7-0 hammering at the hands of Barcelona and has conceded three against Real Madrid and Celta Vigo.
Last weekend, Real Valladolid lost 2-1 to Real Vallecano in what was a third defeat on the bounce, but the Gunners goalkeeper has managed to still earn plaudits. The player was once again called up to the Estonia national team, despite his club’s form.
Hein putting in ‘great performances’ on loan
When reporting that news, El Desmarque wrote: “Karl Hein, who arrived at Pucela last summer on loan from Arsenal, has put in great performances with the blanquivioleta. He has therefore been called up to the national team again, having played and shone with the international side in the recent September international break.”
Arsenal signed Hein as part of the club’s academy in 2018 before offering the goalkeeper a professional contract the following year. The Estonian made his first team debut in a Carabao Cup defeat to Brighton at the Emirates Stadium in November 2022, his only senior Gunners appearance so far.
