Shambolic Karl Hein and Ethan Nwaneri developments show Arsenal desperately need overhaul
Karl Hein is the captain and first-choice goalkeeper for Estonia, and has already been capped 45 times by his nation.
The 23-year-old has also made his debut for Arsenal, along with 39 appearances for the Under-21s side, with 31 of those coming in Premier League 2.
The goalkeeper is a good talent – one that the Gunners should be profiting off – yet he is due to leave the Emirates Stadium on a free transfer at the end of the season.
A string of poor decisions made for Hein‘s development have culminated in a terrible loan spell at Werder Bremen, which has seen him make just two appearances all season.
Arsenal’s failure to secure the right move for the young goalkeeper is just another example of what is becoming an extremely poor track record of managing the development of academy stars.
Arsenal’s loan management is poor
In January, it was announced that Per Mertesacker would be stepping down from his role as academy manager at the end of the season.
The former Arsenal defender has held the position since his retirement in 2018, and has been credited with the breakthrough of several young players.
Under the German’s watch, the likes of Bukayo Saka, Myles Lewis-Skelly, Ethan Nwaneri, and now Max Dowman have emerged, and his exit was perceived as a blow.
But the system that saw young players sent on developmental loans also fell under Mertesacker’s watch, and its failure may have something to do with his departure.
Countless young Arsenal players have been sent on unsuccessful loans over the years, often returning having ultimately been left out of the team for much of the season.
Even worse than that, some players will be left to continue playing at the youth level, eventually leaving on a free transfer.
Arsenal failed to send the talented Amario Cozier-Duberry on loan before he left to join Brighton on a free transfer, with the winger starring on loan at Bolton Wanderers this season.
With the likes of Man City, Aston Villa and Chelsea can make millions from developing their academy products with successful loans, the Gunners no longer have an excuse to fall behind.
- Read more: How much Bukayo Saka will earn on new Arsenal contract as agreement struck for ‘unbelievable’ star
Ethan Nwaneri’s unfortunate loan move will frustrate
Nwaneri was sent on loan to Marseille in January, with Arsenal seeing the Ligue 1 club as a perfect place for the midfielder to play more minutes.
The chaotic events that have followed cannot be blamed on the Gunners and certainly not on Mertesacker, however.
Roberto De Zerbi was seen as the perfect manager for Nwaneri’s talents, but he resigned last week, and sporting director Mehdi Benatia looked to have as well before he ended up staying for a larger role.
The Arsenal talent scored in his first appearance for Marseille, but he was left on the bench for Saturday’s draw, and it is hard to see him getting a lot of minutes under the next manager.
The Ligue 1 club are set to appoint former Villa defender Habib Beye, who is known for his defensive, flat three-back formation.