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Promoting and consistently playing youth players has been a feature at Arsenal for several years. The latest player to cement their spot as a first-team starter is Spanish right-back Hector Bellerin. Cherished for his remarkable pace, composure and attacking presence, the 20-year-old has proven to be the more effective option as opposed to the experienced Mathieu Debuchy who was signed for £8 million before the beginning of last season.
Much like a former well-known (but no so much loved anymore) Arsenal star – Cesc Fabregas; Hector Bellerin joined the Arsenal academy from Barcelona at the age of just 16. He joined Watford on loan in the 2013-14 season where he managed to play in just eight league game. Having made his competitive debut for Arsenal on 25 September in the League Cup against West Bromwich Albion merely as a late substite, the Spanish speedster had to wait over a year before playing Premier League football. The youngster though, started in the Champions League against Borussia Dortmund albeit in a 0-2 loss away from home. Bellerin then made his English top flight debut a month later at home against Hull City when his side drew 2-2.
However, a telling moment in his early career came during the Gunners’ loss to Stoke City at the Britannia later in the season. The Spaniard was withdrawn at half time as his side were trailing 3-0 at the break due to an underwhelming performance. Arsene Wenger replaced him with Mathieu Flamini, who is far from being a natural full-back. Bellerin admitted that it was a moment that could well and truly have destroyed his confidence as he spoke out about the incident over a month ago. “I think the biggest thing was probably after being defeated by Stoke away and being substituted after 45 minutes, it would have been easier to be destroyed by the situation.”
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Arsene Wenger kept Bellerin in the starting eleven for the following week against Newcastle United, proving to be a great decision as he displayed his true abilities – helping the Gunners to a dominant 4-1 victory. During the second half of the 2014-15 campaign, Bellerin came into his own, scoring two goals during this period. The first was the fifth of a comfortable 5-0 win against Aston Villa as he placed the ball from distance into the bottom corner. But it was his goal, in an impressive display, against Liverpool that claimed widespread recognition. He opened the scoring at the Emirates following a surging forward run which led him to receiving the ball from Aaron Ramsey, then cutting onto his weaker left foot before curling it brilliantly into the far corner. The Arsenal faithful were able to furthermore confirm that they had a future star at their helms.
He ended the season showing that he deserved to be the certain starter for the 2015-16 season and despite not featuring in the squad for their season opener, Bellerin has played 90 minutes in each of the following ten Premier League games. He has so far recorded one impressive assist in the league which came at Watford after charging down the right flank, which has been a very compelling feature of his game, prior to setting up an easy finish for Aaron Ramsey. In fact, by mid October – the full-back was responsible for the most clear-cut chances created in the Premier League. Defensively, he has helped to maintain clean sheets against sides like Liverpool and Manchester United and the team have only conceded six goals in the ten matches he has played in the league this term.
With such an onus on attack driven football in the Premier League, the sight of full-backs overlapping and getting in the box to serve their team’s offensive requirements is part and parcel of the game. However, it leaves their defensive position vulnerable, which is a common criticism, but Hector Bellerin’s astonishing pace allows him to dart back and forth on the right flank to be able to position himself defensively when required. His energy levels and remarkable speed was witnessed by the world in Arsenal’s thrilling triumph over Bayern Munich in the Champions League last month.
Being able to continue sprinting at full pace after the 90th minute is mind-blowing on its own, but to intercept the ball from half-way and run past two defenders before setting up Mesut Ozil‘s sealer is on another level. The moment led fans on social media to comparisons between Bellerin and The Flash. This comparison is certainly not unwarranted, the Spaniard has broken the 40 metre sprint record time, quicker than Usain Bolt. Against Swansea City last weekend, we saw another example of his lightening pace. Bafetimbi Gomis broke the offside trap and advanced into the Arsenal box all alone, however after rounding Petr Cech he was robbed by Bellerin, who had sprinted from inside the Swans’ half.
Arsenal have not only found themselves a exceptional right-back for the future but also for the present. Hector Bellerin has proven his worth as a first-team player and will only get better with experience and could potentially become the best right-back in England.
