Arsene Wenger says Hector Bellerin reminds him of ‘Invincible’ Lauren and believes the Spaniard can follow the lead of his Cameroonian predecessor by improving his defensive qualities to complete his transformation from midfielder to bona fide right-back.
Reflecting on Bellerin’s rise through the Academy to first team regular, the boss – who has had 204 players play for him during his 19 years at the club – praised the 21-year-old’s day-to-day dedication to perfecting his game.
“That’s what strikes me most,” Wenger told Arsenal.com. “I’ve been in this job for a long time but there’s something in a young player that you feel when he comes through – this desire that he has to be as good as he can be.
“Sometimes the hunger index drops as soon as they arrive and I’ve always believed that the first and second seasons are very important. You can see how much more the player wants to improve. Sometimes when they arrive at the top level they feel as though they can have a little breather. Those who are the real competitors want to go forward and want to do more. They want to be better and that decides their career.
In seven years with the Gunners Lauren made 241 appearances, scored nine goals and won two league titles and three FA Cups, including the 2001/02 Double. He was a favourite on the terraces at Highbury, in part for the two penalties scored against Sp*rs, but also for his no-nonsense attitude towards his defensive duties.
It’s a real compliment for Bellerin to be mentioned in the same breath, but that didn’t stop the boss, who continued: “He reminds me a little bit of Lauren because Lauren was an offensive player who became a very convincing and very strong defender. I believe Hector can go the same way because at the start he was a right-sided midfielder and he has now become a defender.
“I believe he can keep his defensive qualities and, because he wants to improve, with experience he will improve his defensive qualities. He has a similar kind of spirit.”
I want him to be my kid brother.
No offence but hector ALREADY pisses all over lauren!
He really doesn’t…
Exhibit A – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oKohHsaADeI
Brilliant timed tackle ….
was never a freekick .
That was a nice tackle….but it was ONE tackle! Hardly proves your point does it. Bellerin has many years to develop this kind of heart. ..its not like he’s a soft touch right now is it!
Easy there son. I have to “son” you, such a remark can only be possible if you’re really young. I hope you’re not a day over 25 (I’m being generous here). Bellerin has a long way to go to be like the invincible Lauren.
Learn some respect and come back Tony.
Pisses all over….is not an insult to lauren you melt. It’s a london term for ‘he is better’. Which he CLEARLY IS! Lauren was a beast, but given time, hector will easily surpass lauren. I am 28 and have been watching arsenal closely since I was 7. Let’s not forget lauren was part of the best arsenal team EVER…and played behind ‘Mr puts in a shift every game’ (Freddy ljunburg)
Are you for real??
Did you ever see Lauren play? I love hector but defensively he has a long way to go before he’s nearly as solid. Lauren was a monster
And how old was lauren when we got him? Point proven
That isn’t how it works
IF and only IF we can keep hold of him…you will see my friend!
Tony Gale!? Sky Sports finally sacked you off?
You realize you are making it worse don’t you?
I love this man. In fact, I think want to name my future child after him. Boy or girl!
Hector for a boy, Bellerin for a girl.
Works for me.
My middle name is Hector, something I always kept as secret as possible when at school as it was a ‘weird’ name. It would be a whole different story now thanks to this man.
As far as potential goes….I should have stated!
Please go away
He is too good to be a right back in all honesty. Too skilled the boy at any other club he could easily be running at defenders on the right/left wing.
We hit the jackpot with this one and literally too. If sold I reckon bale money would do it.
It’s a real compliment to be compared to lauren the man was a rock we have been blessed with the lineage of right backs and Bellerin has the potential to be the very best. Like Arsene said if he improves defensively he could be there. Offensively I think he may already be the best of the lot.
Seriously, I guess people don’t talk about it much because right back isn’t a glamorous position, but we have had some great right backs over the years. Not world beaters like Lahm, but solid and consistent players. Before Bellerin, there was Sagna. Before that Eboue, who although i haven’t seen much of, performed awesomely in THAT barcelona match when wilshere stole the show. before that, Lauren, then Lee Dixon. and if i remember correctly, wasn’t Pat Rice a right back?
Eboue and probably Sagna, weren’t that great.
Lol, I wasn’t hating on lauren guys. There’s no doubt he was a beast. But in all honesty he was never in the top 3 as far as right backs go. Maybe not even top 5. I just see bellerin being the best right back in the world someday
#22 Luzhny
Just let him love Bellerin, guys!
Keep digging, we can still see your head.
He’s got the potential to be the best right back we’ve ever had. So going and so much talent. He’s made that spot his for years.
Scary how good he is for his age. Even when he has an off day it’s still a decent performance.
Any chance we can lock him up during the European Championship just to stop him getting an ear infection.
Let’s not expect too much from hector. He has a long way to go to fulfill his true potential. At this age I don’t want him to play too many games.
While clearly he deserves a big contract and will remain the first choice for as long as he is at Arsenal he should be given periods of rest to have an injury free career.
It becomes an absolute necessity to rest him whenever possible when he becomes a regular for Spain.
I know most will disagree but I don’t think Lauren was that good a defender. He was good, but not that good is what I’m saying. There were times he was up against Ronaldo and I felt embarassed for him
So far, with unanimous thumbs down, all have disagreed…
One guy has now thumbed him up. A thumb up his butthole for blasphemy, I assume…
Hector is also up there in the hair-raised-high-with-gel index in that pic
Sorry can’t agree with you there. When Ronaldo arrived at man u, Lauren was at his peak for us. Never saw him (not Ashley Cole) once bettered by Ronaldo.
I hope Bellerin stats with us for many years to come and fulfils his massive potential.
Am I the only one who thinks Hector looks like Jon Bernthal?
Ha.
The Punisher would be a rather apt nickname if he added more consistent end product to his marauding runs.
Stay injury free son and we have a defender that will break the 50m pounds mark in 2 years.
That’s huge for a defender but I sadly see it happening but after a domestic treble 3 summers from now and a champions League final
“My name is Hector Bellerin, and I am THE fastest man alive”
See, he’s even got his own TV show!
He is a real talent
very impressed by him
and love his enthusiasm
push him to be right winger with his fast killing pace defenders can be in trouble
Wow, it’s not like I said Carlos vela was better than Henry was it! Bellerin WILL be better than lauren…Mark my words! Unfortunately bellerin won’t stick around though as you lot don’t have faith in shit!