Arsenal's Louie Copley confirms ACL injury during pre-season

Arsenal 19-year-old Louie Copley has confirmed he suffered a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) during a pre-season friendly against Real Betis. The injury occurred shortly after Copley was introduced at halftime during the match, which Arsenal lost 3-1.

Copley, a promising academy product who had recently been gaining first-team experience, expressed his heartbreak on social media, stating, "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 injury comes at a difficult time for Arsenal's defensive depth. The club is already managing fitness concerns with players like Jurriën Timber and Ben White, and the setback for Copley—who was positioning himself as potential cover for the right-back position—limits the squad's options heading into the new Premier League campaign.