Arsenal: Stephen Lichtsteiner will force Hector Bellerin to ‘get real’

Arsenal have had problems getting Hector Bellerin to be his best self. Enter Stephan Lichtsteiner, the man whose job it is to fix everything.

Hector Bellerin has been one hell of a mixed bag for Arsenal since he arrived on the scene two years ago. The world was ahead of him then, and it still is now, but he seems stuck on that illusive level between prospect and stardom, where he was always meant to be.

There are a lot of reasons why this might be, but one of the biggest ones has to be the lack of either a competitor or a mentor. He’s never had either during his time at Arsenal. Mathieu Debuchy was done away with before he could be either and no other rightback has passed through since.

Bellerin needs someone to hold his play accountable. Internal competition is one way to do that, but making that internal competitor someone who takes the game so seriously is just one step better.

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I can’t think of anyone better than Stephan Lichtsteiner. As we have seen throughout his career and on into this World Cup, Lichtsteiner is a furious competitor, intent on always putting his best foot forward, even if that means going through someone.

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Bellerin has all the talent in the world. Which is one thing. But having the gumption to want even more is something else, and that may be the key piece that Bellerin is lacking. Since arriving at the Emirates, he’s had nothing to urgently strive for. Sure he wants to win and improve, but there is nothing pushing him to go after those goals.

Lichtsteiner is that sense of urgency. He is that bit of added gumption that Bellerin lacks and he’s had it his entire career. So while Lichtsteiner’s main job is going to be to challenge Bellerin for his spot, his second most important job is to teach Bellerin how to want it.

And I mean to really want it, Lichtsteiner style. Because that is how I want every Gunner to want it and so few do.

They may well be two different types of players, so expecting Bellerin to reach that level of ferocity could be a losing battle, but even if he can skim a little off the top, then everyone wins, especially him.

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It’s the dream situation for Bellerin, even if he doesn’t know it yet. Bring on the learning.