According to the British media "The Sun", Stephen O'Connor, once known as Arsenal's talented defender, recently publicly talked about the injury experience that forced him to give up his football career at the age of 23.

The 28-year-old O'Connor was once a high-profile defensive star and made his professional debut under Wenger. He started his career in the Crystal Palace youth academy in his early years and later moved to Arsenal. In 2014, at the age of 17, he came on as a substitute in the Champions League match against Galatasaray and made his Champions League debut.

However, O'Connor was released by the club after three years and subsequently experienced multiple loan spells. After he joined Newcastle, the situation became worse because a torn anterior cruciate ligament never healed.

O'Connor said in a podcast interview earlier this year: "I had never experienced pain like that. I knew the ligament was completely torn and I couldn't walk at all. The knee felt very loose. After about 30 minutes, I was on crutches and immediately searched online for information about ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) , it was just a few letters to me."

"I woke up the next morning and my knee was swollen bigger than my thigh, and I was like, 'It's over.'"

O'Connor said his injuries continued to confuse doctors and stalled his career. Newcastle eventually removed the injured O'Connor from the squad but gave him a short-term contract to support his recovery.

O'Connor continued: "The recovery process was very long. My knee was always swollen and I had fluids drained every few months and no one could figure out the problem. By month 13 I was training for five minutes and then they told me, 'You're done, no new contract, you're done.'" O'Connor was forced to retire at the age of 23, but he now uses his expertise to help develop the next generation of footballers. He initially returned to study law and worked as a legal administrator, but soon returned to football.

O'Connor founded SOCCR Coaching to help future stars develop from grassroots to professional levels. He also serves as coach of National League side Woking and works with the football performance and injury rehabilitation organization FSCR.