Arsenal loanee stars on international duty | OneFootball

Karl Hein performed well in Estonia’s Nations League fixture on Thursday, but he ended up on the losing side all the same.

VALLADOLID, SPAIN: Karl Hein of Real Valladolid warms up prior to the La Liga match between Real Valladolid CF and RCD Espanyol de Barcelona at Jose Zorrilla on August 19, 2024. (Photo by Angel Martinez/Getty Images)

Arsenal goalkeeper Karl Hein is currently on loan with Real Valladolid, but the 22-year-old took a break from club duties to link up with his native Estonia this month.

Hein is Estonia’s first-choice goalkeeper, starting their last 14 competitive fixtures in a row. He tends to drop out for the occasional friendly to give someone else a go, but he’s always back in the lineup for the meaningful matches.

Thursday was no different, with Hein named in the lineup against Slovakia for a Nations League game.

Real Valladolid’s Karl Hein catches the ball during the Spanish league football match between FC Barcelona and Real Valladolid FC at the Estadi Olimpic Lluis Companys in Barcelona on August 31, 2024. (Photo by MANAURE QUINTERO/AFP via Getty Images)

Despite ending up on the losing side of a 1-0 result, Hein was the highest-rated player on the Estonia team according to WhoScored and Sofascore.

The highlights of the match play out like a Karl Hein save compilation video, with the Arsenal man making a number of impressive stops.

In all, Hein made five saves, successfully mopped up one chance from a ball in behind, and made one high claim. He was only eventually beaten by a shot from about seven yards out in the centre of the penalty area.

Real Madrid’s Kylian Mbappe (L) and Real Valladolid’s Karl Hein vie for the ball during the Spanish league football match between Real Madrid CF and Real Valladolid FC at the Santiago Bernabeu stadium in Madrid on August 25, 2024. (Photo by PIERRE-PHILIPPE MARCOU/AFP via Getty Images)

Hein must be frustrated that his recent performances aren’t necessarily translating into results, having also made four saves in a heavy defeat to Barcelona, and six saves in a loss to Real Madrid.

But at least his clean sheets against Espanyol and Leganes earned Valladolid four points, and he can hardly be blamed that his team lost to the best two teams in Spain.

There will be no respite for Hein on international duty, as Estonia’s next match is away to Sweden.