Hector Bellerin suffered a considerable setback last night as his highly rated Spain U19 side lost to Germany in their final group game, meaning that they will miss out on this summer’s UEFA European Championships for that age group.
From an Arsenal perspective, however, that result means that Bellerin will be available for the entirety of Arsenal’s pre-season programme, which commences at the end of this month. It could be a pivotal summer for the 19 year old given the current sense of uncertainty surrounding who Arsenal’s two first-team right-backs will be for next season.
With Bacary Sagna set to depart and Carl Jenkinson having been linked with a Premier League loan move, there is a possibility that Bellerin, should he continue to develop well, could be installed as second-choice behind a new signing in that position.
Bellerin has made tremendous progress since sealing his move from Barcelona three years ago, and gained considerable experience of senior football last season during a loan spell with Watford in the Championship. Also capable of operating as a right-winger, Bellerin made his Arsenal first-team debut in the Capital One Cup victory over West Bromwich Albion last September and was named on the bench in the Premier League later in the campaign.
Up until about a year ago serious concerns existed about Bellerin’s defensive capabilities, but his time at Watford appears to have helped iron out those flaws and, when his attacking attributes are taken into account, the Spaniard is a major prospect for the future.
Whether next season will be too early for him to be a key member of the first-team squad remains to be seen. The ideal scenario would be for the club to acquire a senior right-back with whom Bellerin could work with and learn from. Having featured 29 times for the U21 team, Bellerin has already learned much from second-string football and, as he begins to prepare for pre-season, will now be hopeful of making the next step in his progression.
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Jeorge Bird is the author of www.arsenalyouth.wordpress.com Follow him on Twitter @jeorgebird
Like him a lot and think he’ll do well. Wonder if there’s a spot in the squad for him next season. I don’t doubt that he could do a job here and there but he probably won’t get enough gametime to really push on. Maybe keep him when the league cup is on then find a loan? It was a real shame Zola got sacked because his loan spell at Watford was going so well to that point.
Heard he had some awesome games while out on loan. Definitely ready for some league cup action but wouldn’t be massively comfortable with Jenko and Bellerin as our two right backs come the start of the season.
Would do it exactly like that! Send Jenko to a club where he can play week in week out, get a class right back and let Hector be our backup. Win/win situation for everybody in my opinion!
I think we have to give Jenks a chance as he’s generally pretty solid when ever I’ve seen him. The only time I can remember him having a good string of games was 2 seasons ago at the begin of that season and we only conceded 2 goals of which none were his fault.
Guys, is there any chance Micah R could join us?
I seriously hope not
The ideal scenario will be,let Jenkinson be 1st choice RB and Bellerin 2nd choice next season. sending Carl out on loan could be counter-productive in the long-run if the new RB is in the same age-range as him. keep Carl and Hector for next season
it’s a nice idea but i don’t think jenks is ready, in fact i’m not sure he ever will be, much as i like the lad. he seems to have big problems with his positioning and awareness of what is going on around him. those are pretty important things to be lacking for a fullback and am worried that there doesn’t seem to be much improvement in his game. makes sense to me to send him out for a season and see how he gets on when he is playing regularly in the PL. we defo need a top quality… Read more »
Hope he becomes good enough to play for another club one day and we can loan someone with a broken spine to make up numbers!
Micah is questionable at the back. He was always caught out of position. As much as I like him but I think he’s too much of a gamble being injury prone and dodgy at the back. Rather have Bellerin give. A chance to grow.
It’s a very, very rare thing in football to have a first choice full back under 23 years old….they just don’t have the savvy too read the game. I thought Luke Shaw was shite the other night, and he’s supposed to be the real deal! Bellerin won’t make it at Arsenal. Our next signing will end his Arsenal career…and that’s just how it fucking is.
I think full back is becoming one of the hardest positions in the game. So often used as auxiliary wingers while nominal wide midfielders play more narrow – they have to cover an awful lot of ground and be careful how they choose their runs. I like to see players come through the ranks – but as ever the clamour is for money to be spent. I too would worry if Jenkinson and Bellerin were our 1st + 2nd choice this season.
I love Jenkinsons passion for Arsenal, his crosses are superb, probably the best we’ve had for a long time, he reminds me a bit of Stuart Pearce, a real hard nut … He needs game time to iron out his game, we’ve allowed so many youngsters the chance to make mistakes in the Premiership, but can we now allow time to develope now that we are really going for it? Hate to say it but he sits on bench as understudy … His time will come …
nononono lads. here’s what we do. sign a world class right back, loan him out, play bellerin as first choice and jenko for u21 and league cup.
you think we could sign a player like kyle walker?
Give Jenko a chance first before you decide if he is not good enough. I think he’ll come good a he needs is a run of games. Remember when you lot were ready to write off Ramsey? EXACTLY!
I’d be happy to have corporal Jenks as our first choice right back. The guys quality and is only going to get better with more game time. Personally i think Woy Hodgson is mad for not taking him to the world cup. I mean he took Jon fucking Flanagan to Miami and jenks is miles better! Id go as far to say he’s better than Glen Johnson and that pile of wank is England’s 1st choice!
You can win the league with a shit right back. Look at United with Fabio or his half mutant turtle brother Raphael, they are both shit yet they won it last season
Here’s an idea! Play Bellerin on the wing… in the cup games. He needs game time to progress.
Aurier hasn’t signed yet because he’s too young and in the same boat as Jenko. Jenko I say has a better shot of earning the RB position this season. Wenger will bring him thru as a squad rotational player.
Can someone please tell me why we are not going in for Seamus Coleman? I mean he’s good and has got premiership experience,must Arsenal always be the good guys? Let’s raid the competition as well
all we are saying…
is give Bell-end Ring a chance….