Hector Bellerin has a harder role than you may think

Hector Bellerin is often the face of criticism, but is it warranted?

Hector Bellerin is still only young, yet he has solidified himself a place in Arsenal’s starting eleven. He is even wanted by former club Barcelona, and if I’m being honest, it’s not hard to argue with their interest.

Hector Bellerin’s work rate is what makes him the most admirable to me. See, in Arsenal’s current system, it’s very hard for the right back, as he is forced to do all the work on the flank himself. Arsenal have a very fluid attack, and it’s rare to see Mesut Ozil take up space out wide.

This means Hector Bellerin is forced to both attack and defend. You may read that and think ‘well, duh. Isn’t that the job of a full back?’ You would be absolutely right. However, the pressure mounted on Hector Bellerin to perform both tasks is unmatched.

This may speak volumes for the gaps in Arsenal’s system, but from an attacking standpoint, it works. Mesut Ozil will drop  into central midfield to receive possession and orchestrate the attack with his work on the ball.

This leaves Hector Bellerin needing to push forward with no cover, but he has the speed and determination to get back if necessary. His defending is often criticized, and rightly so. However, it’s important to remember he’s only young, and under the right guidance, he will only continue to improve.

From an attacking standpoint, Bellerin is getting better with his delivery into the box. We have seen his trademark cross be met on a number of occasions this season, but he does need to be more consistent in this regard.

His shooting is my only criticism. Obviously, as a full back, he isn’t expected to have a rocket of a shot, but as a footballer, you would expect him to hit the target a lot more often. The ball often falls to him on the edge of the box, and we have seen him blaze his shot over the bar or wide a number of times. He definitely needs to take tips from Nacho Monreal.

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Overall, I think he’s an exceptional player and Arsenal fans will realize that if he joins Barcelona. Do you think Hector Bellerin should commit his future to Arsenal?