Arsenal: Hector Bellerin absence worse than any striker crisis

Hector Bellerin has not travelled with the Arsenal squad to face AC Milan. His absence is worse than any striker crisis that Arsene Wenger may have to deal with.

Much has been made of the limitations in Arsenal’s striking options in the Europa League knockout stages. After they surprisingly sold Olivier Giroud, their formerly Europa League spearhead, to Chelsea in the January transfer window, the Gunners left themselves a little bare.

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The issue came from the man they replaced Giroud with. Because Borussia Dortmund, having finished third in their Champions League group, slipped into the Europa League, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is officially listed as ‘cup-tied’ and is unavailable for selection. That situation was only worsened when Alexandre Lacazette underwent surgery on a knee injury, forcing him out of the FK Ostersunds tie altogether. He is still yet to return.

Arsene Wenger, consequently, turned to Danny Welbeck to lead the line. His inconsistent finishing, lack of match-sharpness and loose hold-up play rose to the fore once again, with much of Arsenal’s attacking play breaking down whenever it reached the rangy centre-forward. But now, as Arsenal prepare for the first leg of their last-16 tie with AC Milan, the striking position is not the only position to be hit by injury.

Hector Bellerin did not travel with the squad to Milan and will certainly not play, as Wenger confirmed in his pre-match press conference:

"“Hector has not travelled. It’s his left knee. He tried to train today but was in too much pain. It looks short-term.”"

Bad news. I would argue, in fact, that it is worse news that the striker crisis about so much has been made. With Mathieu Debuchy having, like Giroud, departed in January, there is no clear replacement for Bellerin, unlike with say Nacho Monreal, Sead Kolasinac and even Ainsley Maitland-Niles on the opposite flank.

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Against Brighton and Hove Albion at the weekend, Wenger fielded Calum Chambers, a centre-half who has some experience at full back, in Bellerin’s stead. He applied himself as best he could, but there were clear signs that he is not a natural wide defender. His attacking output was poor, with several crosses missing their mark, he lacked the ability to ever beat an opposing defender in a one-on-one situation, and his absence of acceleration, something that is not nearly as necessary at centre-half, was exposed at times by the pacy Jose Izquierdo.

Contrast that to the alternative options at the striker position: Welbeck, for all of his faults, is at least a natural centre-forward and has played the position in some significant games for Arsenal, including last season’s FA Cup final in which he was excellent; the possibility of playing a false-nine with a fluid attacking midfield of Henrikh Mkhitaryan, Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey attempting to cause confusion among the Milan ranks. Either of those seem more sensible and beneficial than Chambers at right back.

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Bellerin is a player of limited ability, especially defensively. His shortcomings have been exploited time and time again this season. But because of the lack of a genuine and quality alternative, his absence will be hard-felt, so much so, that it is now the position that I am most concerned about.