Hector Bellerin says he’s unsure if he’d have been given the chance at Barcelona that he has been at Arsenal this season, but that he’d have worked just as hard regardless of where he was.
Like other players who have left the Catalan giants for England, he’s probably been given first team opportunities before they would have presented them in Spain, and his emergence as a genuine right-back option has been one of the success stories of this season from an individual point of view.
Speaking to MARCA, Bellerin said, “If I’d stayed at Barcelona, I don’t know if I’d have made it to the elite, you just never know. I’ve worked as hard as I could and always had the mentality of reaching the top.
“Whether I was in one place or another, I’d have done the same. “I got the chance and I took it. Wherever you are, you have to work.
The Premier League has been criticised after none of the English sides progressed beyond the Round of 16 in the Champions League, but the young Spaniard says it’s still one of the elite competitions.
“A lot of people in Spain watch Premier League games and know what kind of a league it is,” he said. |It would be madness to say that it isn’t among the best leagues in the world.
“The Spanish league is also at a very high level, with Barcelona, Real Madrid and Atlético. In the Champions League maybe we should have done things better. Perhaps we underestimated Monaco”.
The main difference he sees is in what he calls ‘attitude to the football’.
“In the Premier League there are sides who don’t value it and prefer to play off the ball,” he said. “In Spain they like to take great care of it.”
With Mathieu Debuchy back in full training and in contention for a start this weekend against Liverpool, Bellerin’s place in the team is under threat, but you get the sense he’ll only relish the challenge.
Bellerin is a great talent, you can see he used to play as a winger, because offensively he is so good and he’s so technically gifted. Spain has loads of great prospects at full back right now, and Bellerin is one of them.
Good lad… You’re meant for the top.
The key word is ‘we’.
‘maybe we should have done things better’
Good lad.
He’s hardly going to say I should have done things better! Especially for someone who is obviously quite young and inexperienced..
For me, the ‘we’ is an indication that he feels part of Arsenal.
As a fan I would say, for example, ‘we did well at the weekend’.
This applies more to ex players than current ones. It would be really odd if a current Arsenal player said anything other than “we” as they are the ones who were playing. Can’t really refer to themselves as “they” or “Arsenal”.
Ex players generally say “they” or “Arsenal” as they are spectators, so if we hear “we” instead then we know they are fans of the club and are speaking like us.
Well said, sir
He’ll probably want to go back to Barca eventually but hopefully after spending the next 10 or more years winning everything with Arsenal.
I was going to reply along the lines of “Why not hope he stays here his whole career?”, but after the “Exodus period” (roughly 2006 – 2012, and far more scarring to me than the “trophy drought”), I’m now too cynical for that kind of romantic thinking. We can only hope he’s always excellent while he’s at the club, and that if he eventually leaves, he does so on good terms.
And that we get 50 mil from Barca for him if he does ever want to go back…
And then he does a Vermaelen on them.
or Hleb.
Or Song.
Even Petit and Overmars weren’t up to much at Barca.
just dont do a cesc and pull out a Barca dna nonsense pls.
Better yet, I’d advise everyone not to make the mistake in getting attached to this kid like they did Cesc. It’ll only end in heartbreak. Players will say and do all the right things to appease the fans (to appear loyal) but at the end of the day, a footballer’s word means absolutely nothing. Case in point, Cesc Fabregas. I’m not a Cesc hater, and I don’t wanna turn this into a debate about his loyalty to Arsenal and such. But fact is, he duped a lot of us. And while I adore Bellerin, I’m not gonna be stupid and… Read more »
Footballers motto these days: Show me the money. Only Thierry Henry, Bergkamp and few others have Arsenal DNA. Nasry, Adebayor and RVP do not even remember they played for Arsenal. Me, I remember Clichy crticizing those who were leaving Arsenal. At least, he improved his game with pocket full of petro-dollars. He was a real shit kicker with us. Used to open a toll-free highway for Man U players on the left side when we play against them.
I wouldn’t have been so pissed off with Cesc if he hadn’t gone on strike to get his DNA move.
That’ the sign of a real shit!
No, the sign of that is moving to Chelsea after saying he’d never play for another English club besides Arsenal. Moving back to Barcelona was understandable. Signing for the chavs is unforgivable.
Debuchy is still our first choice right back and will come back into the team when he’s 100% I think but I have been astonished at the rate of progress Bellerin has made. He is going to be our first choice very soon and will hopefully stay with us for many trophy laden years.
arteta did praise the lad. he sad he is gonna be the full back in years to come, competition with debuchy is not gonna hinder his progresa only gonna make him better, debuchy is only gonna play for a few years maybe 3.
If his legs slow down (possible in the next 2 or 3 years) Debuchy may play at CB a bit more (giving HB more FB time).
Emergence of Bellerin puts corporal Jenks in difficult position to break into the 1st team.Though he is performing well at West Ham i don’t think he will be with us next season.It is unreasonable and costly to have 3 regular RBs(Not to mention Chambers as the forth one).The most likely outcome would be another loan stint or worse being sold permanently.Poor lad!
Like any of us fans, I think jenks appreciates the honor of just given the opportunity to represent the badge!
From the little I’ve seen of Jenks this season, although his game appears to have improved a lot, defensively he still loses concentration and ball watches occasionally. Having said that, his timing of tackles has improved dramatically.
Great competition at right back.
hop wenger starts playing Chambers as a DM.
How do you know he’s any good at DM?
Well, the one time he played it, it was pretty bad but then again I doubt we’d ever play him and Coquelin there again unless we absolutely had to, so I’d like to see it given a shot. Keep him sharp for when he’s needed at CB.
Have we checked and then quarantined his DNA?
Better yet, replicated it.
Ha! Fair enough- meant the Bellerin part not the Barfa part, but I was ambiguous!
Love the name.
I want Jenks and Bellerin to be our RBs next season. Debuchy is aquality full back but he’s made of biscuits and not getting any younger.
It’s easy to forget when he’s been out for a spell that Debuchy is quality.
typical comment lacking perspective.
Little harsh on debuchy mate.. He’s had a freak injury and been thugged in the same season.
Didn’t watch the Spanish u-21 game but I saw he was a substitute. Anybody knows who the first choice RB is?
Manquillo
And in suprising news to absolutely no one, with dani “just call me cunt” alves’ s contract running down with barcelona, guess who has been named as their potential replacement! I’m glad those fuckers have a transfer ban.
Fuck Barcelona! COYG!
Jenkinson is not good enough technically. He’s good for West Ham and quality enough to forge a career there. But he lacks the technicality we need in the squad. Bellerin is a much better player. He whips his crosses in with intent where Jenkinson tended to knock them in blind. Also close control is important. For that matter Chambers has plenty of composure for a young player and RB is his natural position. he may yet land in the position although the next couple of seasons may see him tried at Cback and in central midfield bc of his versatility.… Read more »
Jenks is starring for West Ham and the U21s, crossing much improved (assist last night). Debuchy keeps Sagna out of the French national side. Bellerin is class, pace to burn and fantastic control. Chambers isn’t bad if called upon, though better as a CB.
We have an embarrassment of riches at RB. I hope Jenks comes back to compete with Bellerin as Debuchy moves on in a season or so. But maybe that is too much to hope for.
I still don’t understand how Chambers looks like a RB to you, his positioning seems all wrong out there and he always seems to gravitate towards the middle. Plus, central players are usually more composed and physical, two things that suit him well.
If only every 20 year old (not just in football) had the attitude of “Wherever you are, you have to work”, this world would be a better place. This boy is destined for success, regardless of where his career takes him.
I like Bellerin. He’s got the right attitude. I saw him on an Easyjet flight about a year ago coming back from Barcelona. He was just chatting away with some girl who must have recognised him. Seemed like a nice fella. I bet he’s not using Easyjet anymore…
It’s a short flight and if the timing of the flights is right for him then I doubt he’ll worry about the airline.
thanks for that.
Top, top lad, this young man. I hope he stays with us for his whole career. Definitely our RB of the future. He could hold the position even longer than Sagna did.
This is what I have always anticipated in the Arsenal squared. A situation whereby there is healthy competition in every department so no one will feel they are indispensable and thereby flexing their muscle when contract issues pops up. #COYG
Does anyone really think that Debuchy should replace Bellarin? I don’t, he offers more than anything I have seen from Debuchy. However, what is even more scary is the left back position on Saturday against Liverpool. Sterling against Monreal or against Gibbs? Since monreal cannot close mark and is constantly backing off, Sterling will have a field day against him so Gibbs for me in that position
Arsenal squared = Arsenal x Arsenal.
We can’t fail to win the league with that.
Talented and a very good prospect? Yes. Proven? No! Good enough for Arsenal? Yes! Likes mojito after mojito like his mate Chamberlain!? Oh definitely. Gnabry stuck to Virgin mojitos!
I think he will be with us for the next 3 years at least. We have enough resources now and are poised for good times. He will continue to develop immensely under Wenger. It’s good to see that Wenger has faith in him too.
I admire his pace. Technically, he has matured too after a bad start against Dortmund