'Really sharp and really prepared': Arteta says 22-year-old Arsenal talent has looked great in pre-season training

Arsenal are fully up and running in pre-season, with two friendlies now under their belt including their first exhibition match of the summer.

Last Saturday, the Gunners ran out 2-0 winners over Leyton Orient in a behind-closed-doors friendly at the Sobha Realty Training Centre.

And in the early hours of Thursday morning, Arsenal contested their first friendly of their United States tour, overcoming Bournemouth in a penalty shoot-out.

Fabio Vieira opened the scoring in the 18th minute, volleying in at the back post after being picked out by Reiss Nelson.

Antoine Semenyo equalised in the 73rd minute with a deflected strike, ensuring that the two sides were level at 1-1 after 90 minutes.

Arsenal then triumphed in the ensuing penalty shoot-out as Karl Hein saved two penalties for his side.

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Mikel Arteta hails Arsenal talent Karl Hein

The 22-year-old delivered a solid performance overall, improving as the game went on and capping a great display off with those penalty saves.

Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta sung Hein’s praises and revealed how sharp he looked when reporting back in pre-season.

The Arsenal manager also praised the Estonia international for his new contract at the Emirates Stadium.

“Very happy for him,” Arteta said on HaytersTV. “He had to be very patient and wait for his opportunity.

“He came back from holidays really sharp and really prepared, knew he had big games ahead of him. He started tonight and had a really good performance.”

Karl Hein looking for big loan move

Hein was set to be out of contract this summer, meaning he could have moved on a free transfer for no more than a training compensation fee.

However, he went on to commit his future to Arsenal, with The Athletic reporting that he did so on the understanding he would get a good loan move this summer.

Indeed, Arteta hinted post-match that Hein should be leaving the Emirates Stadium on loan over the coming weeks.

Hein looks like he has a bright future ahead of him and, as he showed against Bournemouth, is certainly Premier League quality already.

Hopefully an ambitious Premier League or upper-level Championship team will look to snap him up this summer and help him reach the next level.