Arsenal: Hector Bellerin injury bends, but doesn’t break anything

Arsenal fans were more than a bit annoyed when Hector Bellerin become the latest defensive casualty to bite the dust, but this shouldn’t change that much.

Hector Bellerin has actually been having quite a good year for Arsenal, all things considered. Until Aaron Ramsey did Aaron Ramsey things, Bellerin was leading the club in assists. And while his defense is and will probably always be needing improvement, his attacking prowess is what keeps him secured in the fullback spot.

When he switched to wingback, things got even more promising. So naturally, in the wake of what some are calling a “defensive crisis,” when Bellerin went down with an injury against Southampton, there was a significant amount of moaning and groaning.

Nothing compounds on a crisis like more injuries. Even if it isn’t a crisis. I was actually caught in the throes of misery regarding the state of this defense and was about to break down and call it a crisis thanks to Bellerin’s injury, but actually, hypothetically speaking, not that much needs to change with his absence.

Think about it, the man who stands to fill in for Bellerin is Ainsley Maitland-Niles, a right footed attack-oriented player who has been utilized in defensive roles.

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His primary attributes are his speed and drive, his coolness under pressure, and his midfield-like tendencies. He has ideas, he crosses well enough, and he isn’t a bad dribbler either.

Not all that different than Bellerin. Maybe he doesn’t carry the same name recognition, or the same level of reliability, but the young man is in the wake of trying to prove himself for a bigger role and he boasts a lot of the same faculties that makes Bellerin so special.

There is certainly the risk of Maitland-Niles not being ready, or not being up to the task, but I think he’s been around long enough, hanging around the periphery, that we are all still buzzing about how talent he is. Not to mention the fact that he is now on his favored right side.

So no, Bellerin’s injury doesn’t compile on a nonexistent crisis at all. At most, it bends a bit, as the depth of the side will continue to be under the microscope, but I have complete faith in Maitland-Niles to pick up where Bellerin is leaving off.

And if not, there is always Stephan Lichtsteiner to augment the defense, so again, this is far from the end of the world.