The young Hector Bellerin, who arrived at Arsenal from Spain in 2011, has been imperious since the injury to Mathieu (corrected) Debuchy thrust the young Spaniard into the limelight. Even with Debuchy out of contention, the 20 year-old was still considered to be the understudy to the expensive new arrival Calum Chambers.
But he has grown into his role and admits that he is now completely different to the raw lad that was persuaded to move from Barcelona at a tender age. “I left there as a kid and now I feel like a man,” Bellerin said on Arsenal.com. “I’ve grown up a lot because I left at 16 to come to another country, another culture.
“You really have to grow up and there’s a lot of things that have changed. When I was there I used to play as a winger and now I’m playing as a defender. I feel I’ve grown up on and off the pitch and I feel really confident now as a right back.
“I’ve only played there for four years but I’m feeling really confident that I can play there, and that I’m proving to everyone that I can play in the Arsenal first team.
“Sometimes you only get once chance and I took it,” he added. “I’m really happy with my decision, I’m really enjoying my football and I’m really enjoying living in London. I’ve got my family over here as well so I’m really settled in the club. I’m really enjoying myself.”
He has now made 20 appearances for Arsenal this season, and it is a sign of Wenger’s faith that Bellerin has etained his place in the last four games, despite the vastly more experienced Matthieu Debuchy returning to full fitness. I have a feeling that this young man is going to be one of our great players in the future, and I’m not even sure that Debuchy (or Chambers for that matter) will be able to dislodge him from being an automatic starter next season.
What do you think?