Arsenal: Hector Bellerin – fantastic winger, terrible fullback

Arsenal have given Hector Bellerin the keys to the mint for some time. Is it too late to change his position entirely to focus on his strengths?

Arsenal got three points on the board against West Ham, finally, but there were still problems to be concerned about. Really concerned about. In broad sweeping terms, calling them ‘defensive’ problems is the way to go, but it’s a bit deeper than that.

The midfield and the fullbacks combined to leave our unfortunate centerback pairing exposed countless times. Many people will pin it on the midfield, but the fullbacks were equally if not moreso expensive.

Hector Bellerin was at the center of it. Or the right of it, if you want to get technical. He had another typical Bellerin-like performance, where he was a menace going forward, but as soon as possession changed feet, he was worthless.

Countless times, he was the last remaining defender to play an attack onside. Our centerback pairing was never responsible for the runs getting in behind them because Bellerin was guilty of staying two feet behind them.

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And then there was the matter of him getting torched by simple turn moves. It was clear he was getting frustrated too, because he ended up chopping down any players that got the better of him, accepting the foul rather than letting them get in on goal.

And yet, when you look at what he did going forward, he created two goals. One was an assist, one took a deflection and ended up at Nacho Monreal’s feet, which accounted for the first goal.

Bellerin is a very, very good winger. His speed and ability to maneuver around opposing fullbacks continues to be a fantastic resource on a team that has no legitimate wingers.

But on the flip side, Bellerin has become a terrible, and I mean terrible, fullback. He defends like a winger and attacks like one too. So is it too crazy to ask that he start being used as a winger rather than as a fullback? If you push him forward, you take out the liabilities in his game and you allow Stephan Lichtsteiner to get out there and play a proper fullback.

Bellerin is still young enough to make this work. He isn’t getting any better at fullback, but his attacking play does in fact, continue to get better. As an overlapping defender, helping out as a winger, he would be a menace to other teams and a welcome boon.

Or we can keep dealing with the complete lack of defense on the right side. Your call.