Arsenal: Hector Bellerin needs to have himself a sit down

Arsenal’s win over Leicester raised a lot of questions, so let’s answer another right now by preemptively stating that Hector Bellerin needs to sit.

All day today, the focus has been on addressing the various questions (and there were plenty) raised by Arsenal’s win over Leicester City. From a neutral point of view, that match had everything. From a Gooner point of view, well, it had many things, not all of which were good. I already laid into Rob Holding earlier today, so let’s try that same approach with someone else.

Hector Bellerin.

The best word I heard to describe Bellerin’s performance was ‘rigid.’ He looked like his joints and his brain weren’t on the same page. Like his body wasn’t quite there just yet. There was no real burst of speed despite the opportunities and, yet again, his deliveries weren’t there.

Not only that, but Bellerin was the third worst wing back on the pitch and there were only spaces for two.

Now, we all know Bellerin and what he is capable of. Why it hasn’t worked for him so far at wingback is a question worth investigating, but the clearest solution is just time. It’s a different role.

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In the meantime, however, there is an easy and foolproof way to bolster the squad with just a little swap. As the regular center backs come filtering back to the active roster, Sead Kolasinac is going to be pushed out of the back three and for him to not be pushed right into the left wing back role would be a crime of epic proportions. The man has earned it already.

Which would then displace Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, who was a warrior against Leicester City and has proven himself at right wing back time and again. To not let him slide into Bellerin’s role would be another crime of epic proportions.

Meaning that the only option with now is to bench Bellerin. And while in the past you could say that he hasn’t earned a benching just yet, this isn’t the past. Arsenal needs their best foot forward and everyone else can catch up.

Bellerin is a part of the ‘everyone else’ right now and that’s perfectly okay. He’s young. He still needs time to perfect this role.

Next: 5 Things Learned Against Leicester City

It’s just a matter of the quality around him passing him up, which should help him in the long run. We just have to let it run its course.

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