Arsenal: Hector Bellerin Penultimate Step Towards Turning Corner

Arsenal has extended the contract of Hector Bellerin and with it comes the second to last step in turning that long-term corner.

Arsenal has ticked off one of the major things on their to-do list for the year – they have signed Hector Bellerin to a massive deal believed to be for six and a half years worth £120,000 a week. The Spaniard has stated numerous times that his home is in North London, but now that he has put his money where his mouth is, we can all breathe a bit easier.

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This is a much bigger deal than what it says on the surface, though. Sure, we can thumb our noses at Manchester City and Barcelona, but that was something we could have done all along.

Beyond that, this is the second step, as well as the second to last step, towards finally turning that long-term corner of putting the debt years behind us.

Three things had to occur to show that Arsenal were back with the big boys (even though they always have been, really). First of all, we had to make a massive signing. That was accomplished in 2013 when Mesut Ozil was purchased for a club-record fee.

The second step was maintaining a young, emerging superstar. In the past, Arsenal had to sell off guys like Robin Van Persie, Cesc Fabregas and similar players that came through the system and became world-beaters.

Hector Bellerin is of that same ilk, only he has passed that test of committing to Arsenal for the long haul. Any doubts, which there really shouldn’t have been, can be put to bed.

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The final step in turning that corner is extending the superstars that we signed – obviously Mesut Ozil and Alexis Sanchez. Hopefully that will be accomplished sooner rather than later, because then all of our mental efforts can be honed in on rooting for that trophy.

Extending Bellerin is a massive deal in so many senses. This is an unbelievably talented kid who can make a huge difference, which we have seen on numerous occasions. Never before has speed been so masterfully utilized.

When he robbed Bafetimbi Gomis of a goal with his recovery speed (which he has done numerous other times) we saw his defensive abilities and when he torched Douglas Costa to set up a goal against Bayern Munich, we saw his offensive abilities.

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We have that to look forward to for at least another six years.