Arsenal: Off the pitch, Hector Bellerin a credit to this club

Hector Bellerin may be an inconsistent performer on the pitch, but off it, he is a credit to Arsenal football club. I am more than happy to support him.

I have come to criticise the performances of Hector Bellerin quite heavily over the past 18 months or so. I still believe that he has the natural qualities to be a good right back, but the level of his displays over the past season or two have been disappointing, to say the least.

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But when it comes to Bellerin as a character, irrespective of his qualities on the pitch but his personality off it, he is an individual that I can wholeheartedly support and champion. He is a credit to Arsenal football club and then some, irrespective of what happens between the white lines.

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Bellerin is extremely vocal about his beliefs. He is interested in far more than just football. Fashion fascinates him, as does music, social issues, race and religion, and the growing plastic crisis that is threatening the planet. When asked about his attitude, Bellerin highlighted the rare and important position that he and other footballers have to raise awareness of many issues in modern society:

"“When you have a voice, a platform and a following like we do, we are influential people, people that kids growing up want to be like us – and even adults want to have a son like us, or live the life we do – there are not many people in a better position than us to raise social issues, racial issues or environmental issues than anyone else. It is our duty to do the most we can with it.”"

Whether you agree with what Bellerin says or not, surely you can have respect for someone taking his position of influence in society and using it to improve the world around him. As Bellerin states himself, some tell him to ‘stick to football’. But, quite frankly, I find that an extremely ignorant and obnoxious response.

Footballers are not robots. They are not tools to be used by a manager as a part of a machine. They are people, with feelings, beliefs, nuance. And they have more interests than just football, like every human being that has more interests than just what they do during the nine-to-five. Why should Bellerin ‘stick to football’ when he has passions beyond football?

This is the type of person that I will happily support. The way he carries himself, his self-awareness, his intelligence and humility. He is a credit to this football club. A great credit, even if his performances on the pitch leave a little to be desired.