After significant progress in breaking into the Arsenal first team during pre-season, Reuell Walters appears to have suffered an injury.

Arsenal youngster Reuell Walters has been the one academy player to really break into Mikel Arteta’s thinking during pre-season, travelling away with the team on tour to the U.S. after a couple of positive early appearances.

Most recently, the 17-year-old started Arsenal’s midweek friendly against Brentford, but he was withdrawn at half-time for fellow youngster Zach Awe.

At the time, that didn’t seem particularly out of the ordinary. Players often come off at half time in pre-season, and it usually doesn’t indicate an injury.

But as you can see above, Walters has since posted a picture to his Instagram story showing his leg in a protective boot.

A protective boot doesn’t always have to spell disaster and six months on the sidelines.

Arsenal loanee Jordi Osei-Tutu was spotted wearing a protective boot and using crutches after Rotherham United’s game against Portsmouth back in mid-April. He then played 90 minutes in the next game and featured in every other game of the season.

New signing Fabio Vieira was pictured in a protective boot in pre-season, and he’s now back in training less than a month later.

But it can also mean a break or serious sprain, and more often than not it means at least a few weeks on the sidelines. The timing is frustrating, but at 17, Walters has plenty of time to bounce back.