Arsenal and Hector Bellerin: What more must he do to earn respect?

Arsenal right back Hector Bellerin patrols the entire right third of the pitch in defense and attack. What more does he have to do to earn a little respect?

Hector Bellerin plays a massive role for Arsenal. By design, he is heavily involved in all phases of play, defence, possession and attack. The manager’s tactical setup trusts the Spanish right back to cover the entire right third of the pitch with little to no support for 90 minutes.

Catch the latest episode of the Pain in the Arsenal podcast right here

It’s a modern take on risk vs reward. And the risk is clear: Bellerin is the Arsenal right. Often the only thing behind the full back is a perfectly manicured playing surface. The wingers wander. You know this. They drift centrally as the play progresses from possession-based passing to attack. It is great viewing to watch them link-up in midfield and play runners through. But it exposes the full backs hugely.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

When possession is lost in the attacking third, all the opposition needs to do is locate those full backs. If they are high up the pitch, it can be assumed that wingers are tucked inside, and the counter is on. I am sure we all have a few examples of this fresh in our minds.

But while this risk has been fatal at times, the reward side of the equation is still well worth it: natural width, speed to burn, and an almost unconscious knowledge of how to link up with the advanced players in the attacking third. Bellerin leads the team with four assists in the Premier League. He is doing everything Arsenal ask of him. And anyone who watched the match against Crystal Palace saw just how static they looked in attack without him in the second half.

Still, it often seems like Bellerin cannot win. For the Leicester own goal, the Foxes started with an overload down the Arsenal left. When the play was switched, Bellerin was already marking a player inside the area. If he slides out to track Ben Chilwell’s run too early, Leicester have a wide open cut back and Bellerin gets slated. Instead, he commits at the right time and gets a toe on the shot. What should have been good defending turned into an own goal. That’s football. But “Bellerin is not a natural defender” is the word in the comments.

What more could he do? When teams switch the play after overloading one side of the field, it falls on the forward to track runs. Watching the build-up to the goal, Alexandre Lacazette sees the run in real-time but makes only a halfhearted attempt at doing his job. He needs to bust a lung tracking back. Every match. Every time. Blaming Bellerin is criminal.

The most glaring error standing out on film is that Bellerin is marking center halves at the back post on set pieces. I could not believe it. Remember Harry Maguire against Leicester? If only that was an isolated occurrence. Against Palace, he was left covering James Tompkins on every attacking set piece. It was the same against Fulham. Arsenal were fortunate Virgil van Dijk never rotated over to the back post on Saturday.

This is not a right back problem. It is an eminently fixable tactical problem. Put him on the goal line. Put him on the penalty spot to sweep up knockdowns. Anywhere but on the man at the back post.

The risks associated with Bellerin are well worth the rewards. Present and future. Still only 23, he can be roaming the right flanks deep into the next decade. His speed will slowly diminish and the tactics will surely change to accommodate that reality. But like Nacho Monreal on the other side, Bellerin’s ability to get forward, to create chances and to give it all for the badge are the qualities supporters tend to adore.

Arsenal Vs Liverpool: 5 things we learned. dark. Next

Hector Bellerin plays a massive role for Arsenal. What more can he do to earn a little respect?

Home/Arsenal News