Arsene Wenger says Hector Bellerin’s goal against Liverpool is further proof the young right-back has a promising future at the Emirates.
The Spaniard, who last week made his debut for his country’s under-21 side, capped a milestone week by kick-starting the Gunners’ 4-1 victory with his second goal of the season and by shackling the attacking intent of Raheem Sterling.
While the boss acknowledges that Bellerin has room for improvement, he couldn’t help but praise his latest discovery.
“He’s one of the surprises of the season,” reflected Wenger after the game. “He was at Watford on loan last year and didn’t get the games. He’s just 20 years old, if you look at what he does at 20 years of age… He played against a great player today in Sterling in the second half.
“Maybe he still has some experience to gain but defending one against one is good and going forward is good as well. He scored an important goal in a big game and that always shows that the guy has the mental quality to be there.”
Per Mertesacker was similarly buoyant in his assessment of the full-back, noting in particular Bellerin’s willingness to charge forward and track back.
“He scored the first goal and that was vital,” the defender told Arsenal.com. “He’s given us a lot of energy this season. He’s stepped up because we’ve had a lot of injuries but he gave us such a great energy and he’s capable of producing great performances like today.
“To put in such a good performance in front of our fans makes me delighted. I’m proud of our performance because we we kept going. It was a hard-fought win in the end and we deserved it with the way we played.”
Bellerin’s rise to prominence in N5 hasn’t gone unnoticed in Catalonia. Having traded La Masia for London Colney four years ago his move to England, like that of Cesc Fabregas, still rankles at the Camp Nou and inevitably rumours of a return have already been mooted.
Playing down the speculation, Bellerin went on record yesterday stressing his loyalty to the Gunners.
“I have to thank Wenger, he’s a coach who has given me a great opportunity,” he told Sport. “Given my age it’s hard to do that so I appreciate it. I’m trying to play well for him.
“It was difficult [leaving Barcelona] because I left my family and my friends. However, my dream has always been to be a footballer, not a Barcelona player.
“My aim was to be a footballer, to play and win titles and to get selected for Spain and Arsenal was the best fit for me. Sometimes when the train passes, you either get on or not. Many people called me crazy when I left, but I’m proving I was right. Life doesn’t end with Barcelona.
“I am good at Arsenal, but you never know what the future may hold. Arsenal is giving me everything and I’m alongside amazing players. I’m not thinking about the future.”
Pace. Control. Temperament. Goals.
Look forward to seeing how good he will become given he is already great.
He has Arsenal DNA. suck it Barca
wow, those weren’t made up comments by Blogs?!?! Holy crap, I love Hector more now.
This is a great comment and adds to what Sanchez said about the boss when he came to Arsenal.
When I started following football after the dawn of the new millennium, I fell in love with Arsenal because of their style of play and the great athletes on the team. I have to admit, naive as I was, that I thought the club was actually named after Wenger, haha.
Barca has a lot of pull on players who all want to play for the best in the world – especially those from there. I hope Arsenal pay him the wages he deserves in the future so he’ll never be tempted to leave us. Great performance…and hes been doing it all season!
Question – would yall take Cesc back if we could? Or is he as good as Chav now?
He is a chav. He basically went on strike for a year to engineer his move to Barca. He lied about his “love” for Arsenal. He is dead to me now.
You could have quit while you were ahead. Why spoil it all by doing the …don’t know what the future holds… Footballers smh
Great game though. Hope he becomes a member of our next great side.
Man, Barca are like spoilt brats, pointing at other clubs and shouting “I want!”. Then when they get what they want, they waste 2 or 3 seasons of their careers and ship them off. Is that how you run a football club? Chumps. I hope after Cesc, Song, Hleb etc etc players really, really think twice before making the move to galactico clubs.
Oh, and back on topic, Hector is a fucking badass!
Yeah totally different from when we snatched Park from Lille and then never played him.
WHat does that have to do with the price of cabbage?
That’s like comparing a carrot to some vegetable no ones ever heard of.
Hum. Are we really trying to have a dig at Barca for having a youth system so effective that there simply isn’t room in the first team for all the quality? In answer to your question surely it’s pretty much the pinnacle of how to run a football club, at least as far as success suggests. Wonderful quotes from Bellerin about how he owes Arsene Wenger – heaven knows how many players owe their careers to him and have never had the grace or humility to admit it – but I’d wager he owes a fair bit to La Masia… Read more »
Its not the club.. its the tapping up of those players.
We should hire Hleb.. everytime a barcunt tap, call Hleb up and let him retell his experience.
Maybe we should get Cesc and Song too for that very reason.
Listening to those Catalan cunts gushing over our players now that we can buy and keep our own stars, I can’t help but think of that Simpsons kid going “Heeh Heeh!”
Michael Jackson?
Unless you mean Nelson and “Ha-Ha” 😛
“However, my dream has always been to be a footballer, not a Barcelona player.”
On a scale of a slap across the face to a kick in the balls, how insulting is that statement to Barcelona?
Quote of the season. Thanks ‘ectoor
Finally a clear-eyed take on the Barcelona bullshit train from one of their own. They’ve had some great players and teams, but seriously, fuck that club, with their entitlement, their players who tap up other players in the media and their bully-pulpit secured by lopsided Spanish TV deal.
Marvellous comment. On your scale, I’d say it’s around “blowtorch applied to gonads”.
I heard the Barca youth coach, a man named Gustavo, was so upset when he chose to leave that he gave him the chilling ultimatum, “last chance to look at me ‘Ectooor”
“Life doesn’t end with Barcelona”. Wow! So much about “Barca DNA” then. Hector doesn’t seem like having one. Get in son!
The Belle end, we could call it.
hector is great but i wont play him against chelsea. Hazard and azpilicueta will be too much for him. Hope debuchy gets back.
so you wouldn’t play a super-fast inform right back and would rather play a guy who has missed almost all of the season? No disrespect to Debuchy, but I think the kid has earned the right to feature in the big game.
Serious question.. Does he keep Matt out of the side for the rest of the season?
I think he’s brilliant at the Emirates but that’s different to backs to the wall away games. Debuchy for away games, bellerin home?
It’s a nice contrast in styles between him and Chambers: two of the best academy products at Arsenal from (arguably) two of the top 5 academies in the world. He really is playing bloody well. Should easily be starting for Spain 21s, unless I’m forgetting someone obvious.
I can’t see Chambers getting much time at RB anymore, really been shown up for pace a number of times. But we have Bellerin, Debuchy & Jenkinson who are more than capable.
How is the City bench doing for you now Bacary?
I don’t get the Sagna hate. He moved because he wanted to make some money before he quits. Nothing wrong with that.
It’s not hate, he was loved while he was here and there is a residual of that remaining.
It’s just that footballers should want to play football, not sit on a bench and make money.
And from our point of view it turned out well, swapping France’s second choice right back (Sagna) for its first (Debuchy) and getting Bellerin stepping up.
But Sagna (and RVP and others) leave a limited affection behind from Arsenal fans, they aren’t seen as ours any more. Maybe we expect too much, though sad that money is driving everything, we can’t discuss many football issues without it rearing its head.
I don’t begrudge Sagna his move. He knew his time here was close to done, but right to the end he gave the club 100%. He left with dignity and no acrimony. His contract with $chitty is probably the last one of his career, unless a miracle happens and he comes to play for Vancouver Whitecaps in three or four years. He’s got every right to set himself up for life with one last big payday, and I doubt he envisioned himself sitting on the bench for as much of this year as he has. If he had known he’d… Read more »
He has Categorically told barca to fuck off. Ace.
Just wanna make it aware…
I hope guys don’t think he’s beholden to arsenal and wants to be here for life. His loyalty is to his own career, and not to us.
I say that no to demonize him, but the contrary, to say he’s a player of which football is his job, and arsenal are his employers. It means don’t be surprised if he looks for a move later, yet don’t demonise him for being disloyal.
You’ve just fatgoonered my dreams about Bellerin.
Fatgooner must be so chuffed that he finally became a verb.
Nice speech but please, give it a rest.
We condemn disloyal player, that’s what we do.
Oh, so you condemn him for not being “disloyal” to Barca?
Or does it only apply to players leaving our club, and not to join us?
Yes
It will depend a whole lot on how he leave.
RvP/SN8/CF4 style will be condemned definitely.
Why do I have to wait a week for another game?
Grrrrrrr
watch Rovers kick the Scousers out of the FA cup in midweek
Hush. I know it’s hard but now we get to watch liverpoo struggle
Games like yesterday are a ruddy good way to keep him in contention for Wenger’s first choice right back.
What a lad, i hope he will stay loyal to the club & have an amazing career, here.
Ohh, can i call him one of our own?
“Belle, belle, belle. Bellerin is our boy”
However, my dream has always been to be a footballer, not a Barcelona player. Hear hear Cesc
He is a very level headed and mature individual. Despite his rise, he hasn’t let success to get into his head which can’t be said for his opposite number, sterling.
I love his attacking play, his speed and control is such an asset. He has a good shot technique too! I do find myself screaming at the TV when he leaves acres of space for wide players on occasion, but I guess that will improve as he gets more experience. That said, he is a serious prospect for another world class player, and Barca can fuck off, they are yesterday’s news, and we are a team on the up!
He tucks in a lot because he needs to cover Mertespacker againstbpacy forwards. He doesn’t do it against teams with slow forwards.
That’s my spell check calling per a spacker. Not me! Lol! Although I must have called it him at one time hence my phone remembers.
He tucked in Saturday when Sterling was hugging the touchline, usually his pace can get him out of trouble, but the lad Raheem can sure motor! It’s a minute gripe, I love him, Debuchy will have a hell of a job displacing him. Our depth in defence is becoming a huge plus, one more CB for cover and we can rival ANY defence.
If only we had a better start this season, Josie Moanhio would be getting his “specialist” soundbite rammed up his arse, that might stop him talking for a bit 😉
Stella Belle is a stella fella!
I don’t think Jenkinson has much to offer now. Move him on along with Flamini in the summer.
Someone’s not been watching any West Ham games obviously.
No. Just No.
With Debuchy, Jenkinson, and Chambers in his position, who would’ve thought that Bellerin would be our 1st choice RB? Then Jenkinson got loaned out, Debuchy got injured (twice), and Chambers became a CB. It seems the stars were aligned for Bellerin to shine this season.
And all of that precipitated by Sagna leaving. I didn’t begrudge Sagna for his decision mostly because I think it was time for a change at that position anyway, and with a year of perspective I’m glad he decided to leave. But if he did stay, who knows how it all plays out.
I thought it.
I told my Watford supporting mates when he went to The Hornets that he was fucking class and a future international. And I’d only seen him in the youth cup at this point.
Wenger knows.
He’s our Belle of the ball!
I’ll get me coat….
I miss Michael Scott.
Yes bellerin goal was well placed then same place from ozil free kick a smasher from alexis then gd strike giroud nice win happy easter.
A lot of rightful praise for Coquelin who has been great this season. However I feel it also neglects the return of 1) Meterscielny which has been a very important factor. This has coincided with Coquelin’s entry. Had le Coq played with the unstable back 4 before Christmas, he would have fared little better than either Flamini or Arteta. Metersecker in particular was suffering from a false ‘hangover’ the true ailment being a lack of Cback cover. With the German, who needs speed when you are already there? 2) The fullbacks have been afforded ability to play in their natural… Read more »
Dude we get it…you like flamini better than Coq. But at the end of the day the fact remains that at present he is a better player than flamini.
Mertsacker himself has admitted to suffering from a loss of form due to the WC. what more do you want?
Wenger just said he never expected COQ and bellerin to play such a big role for us this season. If arteta and flamini hadn’t gotten injured, coq would’ve def left. Stop making it seem like wenger knew coq was going to be better than flamini and arteta.
I don’t know what the press are thinking bigging up Spurs and Liverpool.
Spurs are a decent team but they are always our shadow even with Harry Kane (whom we produced)
Liverpool aside from possibly Sterling and Coutinho are made up of average players Rodgers has spent a lot of money on.
Neither team are likely to make top 4.
yet the media is still obsessed with the mythical top 4 race (Bc they are obsessed by these two mediocre teams).
There is no more top 4 race. The race is for second (and just maybe first)
Really interested to see what Wenger will do once Debuchy is healthy. I am sure he’ll come back in at RB, but I hope he will still give Bellerin chances to play as you can see how much he’s developed with the time given this year. Been put in some very pressure packed situations with big games since Jan 1 and has done so well for someone so inexperienced. Would like to see what he could do at a more attacking position if Debuchy does come into the squad at RB, of course there are many in front of him… Read more »
There is no space for jenkinson at Arsenal much as I like his sentiments. Bellerin is a better player. Debuchy has more experience and is a better player. The only player he comes close to matching is Chambers who is probably better going forward but needs to learn positionally at the back still. However, he is also showing signs of improvement and is (like Bellerin) technically more comfortable on the ball than Jenkinson. This is the main issue with Jenkinson. Bellerin, Debuchy, Chambers… that’s 3 players covering at RB already. Even if Chambers is understudying at Cback or for that… Read more »
“My dream has always been to be a footballer, not a Barcelona player. Sometimes when the train passes, you either get on or not”. Beautiful. I think he is learning more than just football from Arsene.
Also, I can’t help feeling the quality of his finish as much as the goal itself set us up for what followed yesterday. Led by example and instilled confidence in our own ability.
It makes no sense to shuffle Bellerin to RW just because you want to accommodate say Jenkinson. Absolutely ridiculous. Bellerin is first and foremost a RB and he offers the engine in that position we need. If Walcott does decide to pack, we should get a player better suited to that position who can add some nuance in the middle and critically on the LW. In any case, there are also other players competing for a spot in Gnabry, Campbell and Akpom. There is no reason why any of these players may not do a Coquelin or Bellerin. Bellerin’s rise… Read more »
Finally a clear-eyed take on the Barcelona bullshit train from one of their own. They’ve had some great players and teams, but seriously, fuck that club, with their entitlement, their players who tap up other players in the media and their bully-pulpit secured by lopsided Spanish TV deal. We should give more fine young players stockpiled at Barca the chance to learn a different football culture and develop. If only Cesc had wiped the DNA out his eyes, maybe he wouldn’t have been subjected to the undignified treatment there that left him being openly rejected by Arsenal, and now just… Read more »
Belle belle!!!!!
Good lad !
There’s no Barca DNA on him !
The delay before the shot (to let that cunt run by) was brilliant. And I thought he lost the chance. Silly me.
When Debuchy is ready, do we play him and take the wind out of Bellerin’s sails? Quite the conundrum. Debuchy is great at what he does and I am thrilled that he is on his way back, but I truly believe that Bellerin deserves every bit of his place in the starting eleven.
Much better than Sagna.
In 9 years… “Having won Premier League titles and the Champions League with Arsenal, it is nice to finally go back home to Camp Nou. To be the first fullback to be sold for 200 million pounds is quite a lot too digest, but I will always be grateful to Arsene Wenger for giving me a chance, and wish him and my teammates well as they defend their latest title. Of course I would love to come back again, who knows what the future holds? They say next year Totnum will be promoted back to the Premier League so you… Read more »
Thank goodness he so far isn’t getting swayed by this “barca DNA” stuff. i was really worried barca would come back for him seeing that Alves might be leaving, but my mind is at ease now.
Still think he’d make a great winger though.
what about debuchy at RB and bellerin right midfield what a combo that would be just abt sows up the right side for pace and power and left side monreal at LB and gibbs left midfield cant never see that happening although he has bought gibbs on before on the left midfield when chasing games, jenko looks like he is a gonner playing regular at westham hasn’t improved any. its a case of keeping all the players happy and playing in all competitions helps. in football you can never say no abt players staying.
Wow…. The picture says, “One Belle Boy vs 7 Liverpool players and goooool”.
With his pace, direct running and composed finishing…he can be a good attacking player.
Too early to say but somehow I feel he may take that route.Will do better than Theo and yes, will cost us a lot less!
Premier League goals this season:
Hector Bellerin, 2
Mario Balotelli, 1
And people thought we should have bought Balotelli instead of Welbeck!