Amid all the contention surrounding the first-team this week, Hector Bellerin’s return from his loan spell with Watford did not receive as much attention as it may have done during a quieter week.
The right-back, who turns 19 next month, has developed steadily since joining from Barcelona in the summer of 2011, but, after starting well at Watford, he had become something of an isolated figure in recent weeks following the departure of Gianfranco Zola, prompting Arsenal to cut short his spell at Vicarage Road, which was due to last until the end of the season.
Bellerin’s departure is timely from the perspective of Arsenal’s development teams, with the Spanish U19 international set to play a major part when Arsenal take on Shakhtar Donetsk in the UEFA Youth League next week, whilst there are also several high-profile U21 fixtures on the horizon in the coming weeks against the likes of Chelsea, Newcastle United and Everton.
Since he was recalled on Tuesday, Bellerin has trained regularly with Arsene Wenger’s first-team squad, but, at present, it is not clear whether he will remain with Arsenal until the end of the season or go on loan to another Championship team. Given how his spell with Watford panned out, the club may well choose to retain him for the remainder of the campaign before lending him out again next season.
Bellerin, though, is determined to make an impact in the Arsenal senior side as quickly as possible. Having made his debut in the Capital One Cup against West Bromwich Albion this season, the youngster has had a fleeting taste of the big time, and, having seen Serge Gnabry establish himself in the first-team, Bellerin will be seeking to follow suit in the near future.
Much is likely to depend on Bacary Sagna, with the signs suggesting at the moment that the French right-back will leave the club in the summer. If Sagna was to depart then Bellerin, theoretically, could be promoted to the position of second-choice right-back, but there are some concerns that Carl Jenkinson is not yet ready to be a regular first-choice. Such a scenario could see a new signing made in that position, which would leave Bellerin as third choice and still waiting for his opportunity to shine.
A persistent threat going forwards and much improved defensively, Bellerin is an immense prospect for the future, but, as things stand, it is not clear exactly how long he will have to wait to establish himself in the first-team. All he can do over the next few weeks is deliver some impressive performances for the development sides, which could force Arsene Wenger to promote him sooner than anticipated.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Bellerin is genuinely talented, but we must keep Sagna for 2 more years at least.
What has happened to the “English-Catalan” Jon Toral-Harper? I know he is promising and has recovered from injury, is he playing well?
Shoot, I will pitch in and help pay for part of Sagna’s contract.
That should help keep him at the club for a couple more minutes.
The thought if Jenkinson as our number 1 right back will cause Twitter meltdown
Debuchy please
I like Seamus Coleman more
BTW That reads like ‘Da Bitch Please’
“BTW That reads like ‘Da Bitch Please’”
Only to people who have no concept of orthography or phonetics.
Or De Bullshit please
If Sagna leaves, we are likely to need some sort of temporary replacement. Bellerin is certainly a promising prospect, but if he was anywhere near the level we need right now, he would certainly be playing 90 minutes every match for Watford. Anyone good enough for Arsenal’s first team should be tearing the Championship apart.
Imagine Sagna in the Championship? He’d be the best defender, winger and striker in the whole league!
AW just covering his options maybe
I think we Should have tried to sign Mats Moller Daehli. Cardiff got him for like 2mill. And in his first start for Cardiff in the Cup he was easily the best player on the pitch by a long shot. He is a massive talent, And he is still only 18 yrs old. Would have been a infinitely better signing than Kallstrom. Pretty sure he will play for Barcelona or equal in the future. To bad we missed out. However, Bellerin seems a decent talent, but still in the rough, and may need some more polishing with regular first team… Read more »
i think it might be as well to get rid of jenkinson and promote this lad to number 2 if we have to buy a new right back