Hector Bellerin has barely put a foot wrong in his senior career at Arsenal and the praise and complements keep coming his way the more he plays. Cameroonian former Arsenal right-back Lauren, who was one of the legendary invincibles, knows a thing or two about playing on the right side of Arsenal’s defense. Lauren was the man who formed part of the remarkable quartet of defenders which anchored Arsenal’s team during their incredible unbeaten top flight season back in the 2003–04 season when they won 26 games and drew 12 games on their way to the Premier League title so he knows what it takes to be a successful full-back at the highest level.
As reported by the Evening Standard Lauren had this to say about the young Spaniard while speaking to Arsenal Player:
“Hector is world class,”
“He’s still young and he still needs to work on some things, but he’s a very, very good player and a very good right-back.
“If he carries on the way he’s going, he can become the best right-back in the world.”
High praise indeed from the Cameroonian international who was reknowned for his attacking ability down the right flank but also his reliability in defense. Ever since Bellerin was thrust into the first team in 2014 following injuries to Mathieu Debuchy, Nacho Monreal and Calum Chambers, the young Spaniard has been a revelation delivering one brilliant performance after another.
Hector Bellerin has blistering pace which you either have or you don’t but the right-back also has superb crossing ability which is a by-product of his formative years where he played as a right winger back in his Barcelona days before he joined the Gunners. The Spaniard attributes his successful transition to right-back to his work under Steve Bould once he joined Arsenal’s academy and the player is a genuine attacking threat which gets him a lot of attention but his defensive work is also very solid.
Bellerin has gone on to become a full international for Spain since breaking into Arsenal’s first XI and the great news for Arsenal is that they have moved quickly to sign-up the starlet to a long-term deal. Arsene Wenger revealed recently that Hector Bellerin signed a massive new £100,000 a week deal which ties him to the North Londoners until 2022. The contract makes him one of the best paid 21 year olds out there but the agreement means that the likes of former club Barca and constant transfer rivals Manchester City can only look on with envy now as they know the Spaniard has committed himself to life as a Gunner.
Arsenal know their right-back berth is secure in Bellerin’s hands for many years to come and fans will be relieved to know that one of the club’s most prized assets has committed himself to life at the Emirates. Bellerin will hopefully form part of a defensive quartet which can go on to accomplish the same kinds of things that Lauren did when he was Arsenal’s main man on the defense’s right side.