Is Hector Bellerin’s Arsenal exit less if and more when?

Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin has been strongly linked with a move away from the club in recent windows, and speculation is unlikely to let up.

The full-back has risen to prominence since Arsene Wenger promoted him into the first-team to cover the injury absence of Mathieu Debuchy, Calum Chambers and Nacho Monreal. Bellerin has earned a call-up to the Spanish first-team squad already despite his age and lack of football in his home country, as well as earning a spot in last season’s Premier League Team of the Year.

The recently turned 22 year-old is labelled one of the best right-backs in Europe, despite lacking any competitive games at international level for the senior side as of yet, and is supposedly being targeted by Manchester City and Barcelona.

Reports are keen to suggest and hint that our full-back would relish teaming up with Pep Guardiola, who he spent time with at Barcelona in his younger years, as well as claiming he would be eager to return to Barca where he previously served at the academy.

This isn’t the first time we have had to endure such a transfer saga, with Cesc Fabregas having followed a near-exact path from Barca to our side, before forcing his exit to rejoin his former side.

Bellerin has publicly insisted that he is happy in North London, which echoes the words that came from our former captain also, but despite all these similarities, we still hold onto a strong position having agreed a new six-year contract with our full-back back in November.

The right-back most certainly does appear to be happy in North-London currently, but this hasn’t been his best season, and with the club currently having issues, he may be considering his options.

I’m confident there is no chance of him leaving this summer, and our club should enjoy better circumstances in future seasons, but will it be enough to keep him at the club long-term?

Pat J