Hector Bellerin says that Steve Bould played a pivotal role in his development as a right-back, after he’d spent much of his youth career playing further up-field as an attacking player.
The Spanish international was seen an Arsenal scout playing right-back for a Barcelona youth team, but it was not his customary position.
So, when he came to Arsenal he was being retrained there, and an interview with Sport Magazine he revealed the role the now assistant manager played.
Asked if it was Arsene Wenger who convinced him playing as a defender was the right thing, he said, “At the beginning, Steve Bould was the key because I was playing for the under-18s and under-21s when I first came to Arsenal.
He told me: ‘Hector, you’re alright going forward, so I don’t want to touch anything there. But defensively you’ve got to work a lot.’
“The stuff I learned in just one season with him was crazy. Once you have the basics in your head, you just have to put it into practice. Since then, every coach I’ve had has helped me to become a better player.
“When Arsenal told me at the beginning, I was a bit frustrated – you know, thinking I like to be an attacker.
“But soon I realised what their vision was for me, and how they saw me as a right-back.
“In the beginning, learning a new position is not easy. But I’m feeling comfortable now. I’m really happy with whoever’s idea that was, because maybe if I was still a winger I wouldn’t be where I am.”
Bellerin will miss this weekend’s game against Man United, having been ruled out for a month with ankle ligament damage.
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What a player… What a guy!
shame this dude’s out for united
Easily my current favourite player.
Pure electric
Used to watch Bouldy after he joined from Stoke late 80s. Great partnership with Adams.
And people say our coaches do nothing.
People would much rather a coach scream at players from the sidelines. As long as you show ‘pashun’.
Just saw an interview by BBC with Ruud Gullit. He categorically says that all that ‘orchestrating’ from the sidelines is just a distraction which the players ignore. Only a fullback can understand what the manager is saying, and trying to convey that through the team is not possible.
He’s right on the money. If he was a right winger, the competition would have been really intense for places.
It’s the reason why Campbell is out on loan after a decent half-season for us.
At right back, with Debuchy and Carl’s injury problems and his own good form, it’s no wonder he’s the best right back in the Premier League at least.
Thoughts on if he’s better than Sagna?
More creative, more of a goal scoring threat, and definitely offers more pace than Sagna. Not as good in the air and not quite as consistent but considering his age I would say Hector will almost certainly surpass Sagna in terms of his overall quality. Very different players though I would add.
They’re both quite different. Sagna at his peak was a much better defender, plus he could play CB with some conviction. Of course, Hector being so young, he could certainly improve his defensive work. In an attacking sense, hands down Bellerin is better. I have a feeling that he isn’t the finished article yet, and that’s quite an exciting thing for us (and a frightening prospect for other teams). The best is yet to come!
That was a pretty Bould move.
GUTE BESSERUNG HECTOR… COYG… A WIN PLEASE
Not since the days of Thierry Henry have we had a player who so epitomised the word “cool.”
Comment: wishing all of them speedy recovery.