Should Arsenal keep hold of Hector Bellerin next season?



Should Arsenal keep hold of Hector Bellerin next season?

By Tom Masters
Arsenal suffered a second consecutive Premier League defeat at the hands of Brighton and Hove Albion last weekend and with injuries starting to mount there is a clear issue with Mikel Arteta’s squad depth.
One such area that the Gunners appear to lack in is right back, with Japanese star Takehiro Tomiyasu missing and Cedric failing to reach the same heights of Tomiyasu, there are questions about whether or not Arteta will need to sign a right back for next season, or whether he will be able to solve his problems internally.
One man who is still currently an Arsenal player and could solve the Gunners’ right back woes is Hector Bellerin.
The Spaniard is currently on loan at Real Betis after nine years at Arsenal and could slot back into Arteta’s defence after a year in Seville.

How he can help

An experienced campaigner, Bellerin joined Arsenal in 2012 and made 183 appearances in that time, scoring eight goals.
He has also been capped four times by Spain after representing his country at U16, U17, U19 and U21 level.
With so many appearances for Arsenal, he is someone who both knows the Premier League and knows what it means to play for the Gunners.
In his nine years in North London, he won three FA Cup titles, showing he is also someone who knows how to win trophies - something that prove invaluable as Arsenal try to return to the top tables of both English and European football.
His experience and know-how would be hugely beneficial and Arsenal would gain a lot from his presence.
But whether or not Bellerin would be happy to not be guaranteed a starting berth remains to be seen.

What has he said and does he want to play for Arsenal?

Bellerin was recently asked about his opinions on the matter and whether he would want to stay next season on Wrighty’s House podcast.
The Barcelona born right back said: “Arsenal are doing amazing and that makes me so happy.
"The player [Takehiro Tomiyasu] they got in my position is doing great.
"There’s literally no hard feelings for me. It’s beautiful to see because I watch every single game and I want the guys to do well."
Those are certainly words that suggest that Bellerin is not necessarily finished in North London just yet, but it sounds as though whatever happens it will be amicable.
Bellerin has played 21 times this season for Betis, who are currently in fifth place in La Liga, narrowly missing out on the Champions League as it stands.
You would expect the Spanish side would be interested in either making the deal permanent or extending his loan for another season, which in turn could give Arsenal the funds to replace Bellerin and ensure they are better set at right back next season.

Verdict 

This will largely come down to whether or not Bellerin wants to come back to Arsenal or whether he is content at Betis.
Both sides are fighting for to be in the Champions League, if either side manage to get there, it is likely that would be a big bargaining chip in trying to lure the 27-year-old to stay.
If Arsenal do decide they wish to keep Bellerin and he buys into Arteta’s plans next year, it could be a very good solution for both parties. 
Photo Credit: Getty Images

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