Arsenal should hang on to this star performer or another failure looms large for Wenger
Sep 22, 2016 at 11:58 AM
With Barcelona and Manchester City reportedly eyeing up Hector Bellerin, it was crucial that Arsene Wenger kept hold of his first-choice right-back coming into the new season.
The Gunners have lost numerous players to both these clubs in the recent past – Cesc Fabregas and Alexandre Song to Barca, and Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy to City, among others – and it is a trend that cannot continue if they are to move forwards.
Time and again, the club have begun to build and then been raided and had to start over. Bellerin is, without a doubt, one of the best full-backs in the league, and a key component to the way Arsenal play.
He has electric pace, good end product and is improving defensively. And he’s only 21. He is by far the youngest player in the squad to have nailed down his place in the starting XI beyond a reasonable doubt. Mathieu Debuchy poses no significant threat to his place, and nor does Carl Jenkinson, who is currently injured anyway. Calum Chambers is out on loan, and his future looks to be in the centre in any case.
With pieces still left to be put in place at Arsenal, it is imperative that he is retained. Not just because it would mean having to replace him (and there is a paucity of quality right-backs available at the moment), but because it would be a sign of defeat for the club.
It would show a lack of ambition that would spread to other stars at the club. The likes of Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez may begin to doubt.
That cannot be allowed to happen. But, if the youngster’s heart is swayed, either by the lure of home or the tantalising prospect of working with Guardiola, then the temptation may be to cash in.
Wenger has resisted that temptation so far, having stood firm and batted away any interest in his young charge.
But the battle is unlikely to have been won that easily, and for the sake of the club, Wenger must do all in his power to convince the young Spaniard that North London is his true home, where his terrifying pace can be witnessed on the right for years to come, helping the Gunners to titles and trophies.