Hector Bellerin has thanked his more senior teammates after his display against Newcastle drew some interesting praise from Arsene Wenger.
The young Spaniard has yet to make it into double-figures in terms of appearances, but his performance yesterday prompted the Arsenal manager to say, “It was the first time I’ve seen Bellerin playing without a handbrake and you could see that there’s something there.”
Much lauded, especially by skipper Mikel Arteta, Bellerin looked more confident and assured – a consequence of gaining a little experience, but he also praised the players around him for helping him through.
“All the lads have supported me through the loss against Stoke,” he told Arsenal Player.
“The players have been really supportive with me and I’m really pleased with the confidence they gave me. It’s them that made me play like that.
“I don’t play like that by myself, I play like that because I’ve got really good players that help me. I’m really pleased.
“It’s nice to get an assist but it’s the work of the whole squad, and I’m really pleased for them.”
With Koscielny and Monreal still out injured, he may well keep his place for the trip to Anfield next Sunday, so let’s hope he can continue his progress there.
Good lad. Lots of potential, can only gain from the experience and will get better defensively.
I’m an expert in the field and believe that not only does Hector have the pre-requisite Barca DNA, but he is also being held hostage in London and needs to come home.
PS, while he’s at it, Joel should try and get out while he can too.
I don’t understand the down votes. Do some people not realise it’s a joke?
One big positive from our injury crisis.
I very much doubt Wenger will buy in Jan now with the emergence of Debuchy at CB and Bellerin.
We now have
CB – Mert and Kos, with cover from Debuchy, Chambers, Nacho.
LB, Gibbs, cover from Nacho, Bellerin and Le Coq
RB, Debuchy, cover from Chambers, Bellerin.
DM, Arteta, cover from Flamini, and Le Coq.
I agree with most here that we need more cover in CB and/or DM, but I doubt Wenger will agree with us, he will see buying someone as stopping the progress of Chambers/Bellerin etc.
To quote the Grinch Who Stole Christmas, Wenger probably said
“If I can’t find a center back, I’ll make one instead”
If all the defenders are fit, or near enough, I think that is a fine solution -but we still need some CB talent for the future, Per and Kos are 30 or near to it.
Debuchy has played there one game, and Nacho gave it his all and had some nice moments, but the experiment didn’t really work. I’m thinking AW knows he needs a CB, and will get one in January.
Comment:His confidence has grown a lot..is it possible that he runs
faster than Usain Bolt?
Comment:His confidence has grown a lot..is it possible that he runs
faster than Usain Bolt? LOL
The lad is excellent. That Barca DNA is really starting to come out.
This is how he played during pre-season. Which is why Jenkinson was loaned out.
If he continues to perform, esp against Liverpool and Debuchy remains solid at CB then we might not need to but a CB in Jan.
We need to stick together and remember the injuries (mostly due to bullish tactics from opponents) we have had compared to Chelski and Man City.
In Arsene I trust…. COYG!
Fuck off. We NEED to buy a CB in January.
I dunno… What about Chamberlain? Who are we gonna get better than him who’s willing to play second fiddle? Not saying there isn’t someone, but that’s the challenge isn’t it. Not necessarily as simple as “go and get someone”
Sorry Chambers
You have been diagnosed with the Arsene-little-bit-niggle-disease. We need to buy a CB… No discussion.
Brilliant boy. I like chambo, but I rather see the kid playing as our right back. He can only get better.
What about Debuchy? One of the best RBs in the league
This kid looks like hes come out of a 1969’s gangster film. His face is timless, he looks a bit like one of the krays haha. QUALITY player. What world class forward will be able to outpace him? thats what we need.
If he becomes a star, it’s going to be amazing to watch other teams supporters get annoyed by his duchy looks.
Very impressed with what I saw from him. Exciting news!
Imagine him and Walcott together!
I watched some videos on Arsenal dot com a while ago of age group games for The Arsenal and that is how he plays, runs from deep, into the box, he can cause chaos. A dangerous weapon as it were.
Does he play in Jenkinson’s place?
I’m not so sure Bellerin’s best position isn’t higher up the pitch. But if he can be both Sagna-like in defence and Walcott-like in attack then what the hell – I’d take that in a heartbeat.
Being able to fill in on the left is just one of many bonuses.
This. Think he played up the pitch back when he was at barca. Suprised when i heard he plays as a rb for the reserves.
He was really good in preseason and really thought he can develop into something this season, glad he got his chance despite the injuries. Glad he didn’t lose confidence after being thrown in the deep end in earlier matches
Am with you there Springback,I wonder how he’d do at no.7
Am with you there Springbank,I wonder how he’d do at no.7
Just hope he can keep his head out the clouds ( relative to the one you are already on as a footballer at arsenal ). Keep working hard, keep improving and not take anything for granted. I don’t want to be that guy, but I see an incredible future for a player with his skill set. I just also am too aware of the shitstorm that could follow such a future, considering the pack of cunts we took him from, so as excited as I am by him ( if he improves the defensive side of his game he will… Read more »
He could very well be like Bale type of our own. Starts out at defense, but good up the pitch too.
The boy is really impressive. That pace is blistering. I’m always puzzled when I’m told their ages (him and chambers) they play like they’ve been there for ever. We STILL need a defensive midfielder in case Arteta gets injured or Flamini picks a card.
Speed matters. We’ve got Walcott/Sanchez/Chamberlain/Bellerin/Gnabry = the future is bright.
And here’s a prediction: We will have bridged the deficit with Chelsea from the 13pts now to only 8pts, by the 1st of January.
We are blessed with speed and I really like the idea of Ox running with speed through the middle. But he justnt do that, he tackles, short pass, long pass, link up etc. I think he could do a proper job there for good just not a game or two. The fact that we have Ramsey, Santi, Ozil, etc for the same position does gives us loads of selection headaches when all of these are fit in January. If only we had similar headache for defensive position, we could have been in for the title.
A club wide ban on the handbrake please.
We need a Cback first and foremost. koscielny’s tendentious can only be healed by time. Per is dangerously in the RED zone. We do not need a DM (unless Arteta is put for long duration) As far as Bellerin goes, he was ALWAYS part of this seasons plan. We had 7 defenders. We are missing a CBack short of competitive ability. Wenger got it right reinforcing RB on Sagna’s departure with triple redundancy in Debuchy, Bellerin and Chambers. I suspect with the maturity in performance Debuchy had put in, Wenger may be tempted to continue him at CBack with Per.… Read more »
Bellerin has also been a bit unfortunate this season being introduced into the deep end in some crunch games thanks to Wenger’s oversight with the CBack issue. With proper support, he is going to be a super weapon going forward providing width and goals. It is wrong to think he is included only because of lack of options The reason why Wenger let the more limited Jenkinson leave was because Bellerin is so much more a step up as is Calum Jenkinson is as good as gone. I like his heart but he is limited. Even Le Coq provides more… Read more »
Been most consistent player in the reserves for a few seasons, crazy energy and stamina, bit like Alexis in that regard, but he can shoot too, you guys wait… He’s gonna nail the RB position down. First time we’ve looked equally solid and dangerous in both full back positions. Gibbs and Bellerin, Arsenal youth, keep bringing them through Arsene!
Our future dani alves(hopefully better defensively).
Debuchy is still the starting RB, but Bellerin looks like the understudy that can do the job in case Debuchy is suspended (he does get cards), injured, or off-color. It’s like Gibbs and Monreal at LB. And while an earlier poster didn’t want to hear it, Wenger knows now that Monreal, Chambers, and Debuchy can play CB and will be looking for a DM before a CB–if he doesn’t try to convert Chambers or Bellerin into one or just stick Coquelin in there. Given the talent in our price range, don’t be surprised if the wallet stays closed. It’s a… Read more »
Sheer class!
That magical fucking handbrake…Kid was excellent against Newcastle though.
For years now I have thought Cheick Tiote would be perfect addition to shore up all defensive positions. A nighmare c**t to play against, like J. Barton, but I would mind him biting ankles in front of the CB’s for us…. and Mike Ashley is ALWAYS ready to sell anyone. I they sold Cabaye mid-season a year ago….
I can’t help thinking that Bellerin has been playing with the handbrake on because he’s seen how the Arsenal crowd ripped apart other young defenders thrown into the deep end in the last few years. Booing the players on the pitch might make some of us feel better, but it isn’t only those players who may be affected by it. Let’s hope Bellerin gets a better ride from the crowd on the day his moves don’t come off right than some of our other players have been given. We fans may not have much of a voice nowadays, but we… Read more »
He has massive potential to make the right back position his own over the next few years. I think it is important to not get too carried away though. Bellerin still needs to develop both the physical side of this game and his defensive positioning (sometimes gets caught too high up the pitch). Basically what i am saying is buy the good CB we need (Schar, N’koulou standard) and then we can develop players like Bellerin and Chambers by rotating properly rather than out of necessity. This will help both them and the club because when they do play it… Read more »