Unai Emery fears Arsenal have lost another player to a big injury after Hector Bellerin was stretchered off in the second half of the Gunners’ 2-0 win against Chelsea.
Our right-back, who claimed an assist for Alex Lacazette’s opener, went down on 68 minutes clutching his left knee and immediately called for the referee to stop the game.
In obvious agony, he required extensive medical attention before being stretchered off.
The fear now is that, like Rob Holding earlier this season, he has done serious damage to either his medial ligament or anterior cruciate ligament. In either case it could spell a long period on the sidelines.
After the game, Emery said: “We will wait. It’s his knee. The prediction is it could be an important injury. I hope no, but our first impression is not positive.”
Granit Xhaka, on the pitch when Bellerin went down, added: “I don’t know what happened. They said something is wrong with his knee but I hope it’s not a long injury. We need him and you could see that today. I wish him all the best and I hope it’s not a big injury.”
Bellerin only returned from a calf strain last weekend having missed four league games since limping off against Southampton.
Ainsley Maitland-Nilesm Stephan Lichtsteiner and Carl Jenkinson are Emery’s other options at right-back as we weigh up games against Manchester United, Cardiff and Manchester City.
In the meantime, big love to brother Hector. Get well soon.
This certainly weakens us, really hope we don’t revert to a back 3, and it’s Maitland Niles who gets the nod for his athleticism.
IMO we were playing better when we had Rob and Bellerin. Today also Bellerin’s performance was good. It is shame that whenever we have some positive news, it is followed by bad one. Get well soon Bellerin.
We need more depth. I’m convinced that Bellerins injury problems this season are, in part, because he’s not really had a rest for about 3 years.
He was that good today that he might be the reason for the “click”.
Hate to say it on a day of such positivity…….but we just dont have a back up player anywhere near his ability and influence.
all our thoughts are with you Bro
Jenko masterclass against Sane incoming. You heard it here first.
I like your optimism.
More plausible than a Lichtsteiner masterclass against Sane.
Damn right
Damn. He is so under rated and we desperately need him. Lets hope its not as bad as feared.
F–k! Afraid we are going to miss him for some time. Would much rather see him in our colors than in the stands wearing his fashionable king fresh ice gear.
Hoping for the best, but not too optimistic about anything other than a long term injury. That definitely looked bad, going down with zero contact. Wishing you a speedy recovery, Hector!
We won another Derby
Get well soon Hector 🙁
Fuck
My favourite players are Hector Bellerin and Mesut Ozil. What a time of things I’m having.
They’ll get better my friend just enjoy the victory today and wish Bellerin speedy recovery
Gutted for Hector.. he had a good game tonight.
Yet another huge loss…
Great result though… brilliant performance
.
Ah for fucks sake – seems that every silver lining has a cloud with this club
UE should care for his players’ health as much as he cares for Özil’s…
First Alex comment after one of best wins of the season. Tells a story.
#AlexlovesOzilbuthardtotellifhelikesArsenalatall
It’s Jenko time baby
Major blow. We saw how much he’s been missed recently and saw the difference he made today.
I just hope we don’t see Lichsteiner play at right back, for the rest of the season.
Get well soon mate. A really Important player for us and an awesome human being.
He should never have taken the number 2 shirt. It’s cursed!
It did no harm to Pat Rice.
Pat Rice had cancer.
Bellerin in our hearts… forever
He’s not dead mate
Massive blow. It’s the thinnest position at the club.
Like others, I hope we don’t go back to that shambles with three at the back.
injury gods!!!!!! why?
Fuck, he’s kind of irreplaceable. That first eleven today I would have been happy to go with for the rest of the season as well.
At best I think it’s a season ender. At worst he’s not back until October/November. Get well soon you slick basterd
Gute Besserung Hector.
Hector would benefit from quitting the inferior vegan diet sooner rather than later. His body will continue to break down easily if he doesn’t start eating some nutritionally dense animal foods again. It’s cool to be all ethical, loving/sparing the animals & stuff, but not so much when your body is paramount to your career & livelihood.
Totally non scientific reply. I suppose all those other players who get injured are vegans too.
Not non scientific at all, there’s a wealth of literature & tons of examples of the negative impact veganism has on the human body. If he doesn’t change his diet soon expect to see him sidelined for most of the remainder of his career.
Ah Alan Brazil, so nice to hear from you.
Not a fan of Alan Brazil but in this instance he makes a valid point.
Really disappointed with Hector’s injury considering he just returned. Get well soon!!
The one sour note today. Just came back from injury and looks like a bad one. He really provided something for us on the right going forward but also with close control working out of defense. AMN came in and did a good job. He has plenty of strength and power and today he did not (need to) try to push forward so he did the basics defending the right side well. BUT Bellerin prob still ahead in terms of balance between offering width going forward and defending. All the more reason why we need to find someone to provide… Read more »
Sometimes I have the feeling that especially those players who have been labeled as not good enough to play for Arsenal are getting really bad injuries once they’ve proven that they are indeed good enough to play for the club. It was Ramsey, who got so much stick and as soon as he started delivering, he got that horrible injury. Holding was written off several times during the last 1-2 seasons, now where he’s shown that he’s a quality player, he’s out. Welbz was ridiculed during the whole of last season ”Bambi on ice” etc. But as soon as he… Read more »
Get well soon, Bro.
Definitely looks like a season ending injury which is awful news for him of course, but just as much for Arsenal as we really just have AMN that can play there as we all know Lichtsteiner is a horror show out on the right side. Hopefully an extended run can give AMN the confidence and experience there to perform like Bellerin did when he was given the chance after the injury to Debuchy.