Arsenal: Hector Bellerin As Captain Hearkens Back To Misery Days

Guillem Balague has claimed that Arsene Wenger sees Hector Bellerin as a potential Arsenal captain. That, though, would harken back to the misery days.

The financial restrictions that Arsene Wenger has had to deal with at Arsenal in the build-up and aftermath of the move to the Emirates stadium have seen many stars leave. Thanks to the inability to match their ambition, their wage demands or both, the likes of Thierry Henry, Cesc Fabregas and Robin van Persie have all sought pastures new.

There is something, else, though, that binds them together, and it is not simply that they left North London. Rather, they left as the club captain. Wenger tended to give the armband to the player that he saw as the most important, almost in the hope that the extra responsibility would convince them to stay.

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It rarely worked.

And now, there is the possibility that the same tactic may be used again. In a Q and A with Sky Sports, Spanish football expert Guillem Balague detailed how Barcelona should pursue Hector Bellerin, a move that has been heavily rumoured in recent months, but tempered expectations by stating that Wenger saw Bellerin as a potential captain in the future:

"“For me, Hector Bellerin. Not only is he a Barcelona player as we know having come through La Masia, he has gained so much maturity but somebody at Arsenal told me that if Arsene Wenger ends up staying, he could end up being captain in two or three years. He is that kind of personality and even though he is young, he loves Arsenal and London so let’s see if Barcelona can convince Arsenal to sell Bellerin, which will be a hard task as they have no intention of doing so right now.”"

Whether Bellerin has the character traits to blossom into a commanding, inspirational captain, I do not know. However, as reports circle that Wenger could leave the Gunners at the end of this season, there have been suggestions that Bellerin may too look to leave, given his admiration and respect for the French manager.

Simply giving him the armband would not prevent him from wanting to depart. It would merely heighten the media furore when he does depart. Perhaps, then, the suggestions that Bellerin could in line to be captain in the future portrays more about the make-up of the squad than it does Bellerin.

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There simply aren’t any leaders at the club. It has been an issue that has plagued the team for many years. It is why there were little complaints when Henry, or Fabregas, or van Persie were handed the armband. There simply weren’t any other options. And now Arsenal are yet again in the same position, hearkening back to the misery days.