Arsenal: Resurgent Hector Bellerin Rumours Support Arsene Wenger

Rumours linking Hector Bellerin with a Barcelona move have resurfaced again this week. A possible Arsenal exit supports Arsene Wenger’s reign and influence.

The loss of top players is to be expected. Given the competitive nature of the elite level clubs around European football, there is only so much supply to go around, especially in defensive areas. It has been a truth that has hurt Arsenal and their squad in the past and could do so once more.

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The likes of Thomas Vermaelen, Bacary Sagna and Gael Clichy have all left for pastures new, for bigger pay packets and more trophies. More recently, the tide has been somewhat stemmed thanks to the release of the financial restrictions that has placed the club in a rather tight negotiation situations.

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However, over the past six months, there have been rumblings that their latest defensive star, Hector Bellerin, could be the subject of a move back to the club where he grew up as a youngster. Barcelona have been linked with a move for Bellerin but such suggestions have been quashed primarily through the Spaniard signing a new long-term deal before revealing publicly that he has no intention of leaving North London.

Nonetheless, during that time, it was revealed that Bellerin’s decision was strongly tied to the future of Arsene Wenger. The Arsenal manager is clearly a major influence on Bellerin and, if he were indeed to leave in the summer, then it would perhaps move Bellerin towards deciding to also departing.

Much of the debate surrounding the future of Arsenal has centred on Wenger’s own future. There is a growing portion of the fans – I would even suggest that this may now be a majority – that believe the club would be best served if he indeed departed when his contract expires at the end of the year.

Of those who still want Wenger to stay, their argument rests on two key pillars. The first is respect. For all that he has done for the club throughout his 21-year tenure, Wenger is deserving of the dignity of defining the terms of his own exit. The second is the relationship that he has with the players.

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Bellerin is one of those players who have an extremely strong link with Wenger. The resurfacing of rumours suggesting that he could leave North London in the summer only go to support the belief that Wenger is still very popular with the players, bolstering the claim that he deserves to stay on as Arsenal manager.