Arsenal: The 5 ‘new signings’ Gunners will benefit from next season

4. Hector Bellerin

Hector Bellerin has been a regular starter since his return from injury in late-January. But while he has been consistently available for selection for the first time in over a year, in reality, this has been a very different Bellerin to what has become expected of the effervescent Spaniard.

In the first six months of the 2018/19 season, he provided five assists and looked extremely sharp, flourishing in Unai Emery’s high-energy approach. Then he ruptured his ACL in the winter and has not looked the same since, with The Athletic’s David Ornstein reporting that Bellerin had been playing through a groin problem since his return to the team in 2020.

After several months without competitive action and the chance to rest and recuperate during the summer months, especially if the season is cancelled, which is perfectly plausible at present, Bellerin might finally return to his peak form next year. And that, after his underwhelming performances this year, would very much feel like a new right-back option for Arteta to use.