Kevin Campbell has claimed that Arsenal star Hector Bellerin is not a defender while speaking to the Highbury Squad YouTube channel.
The Gunners legend was critiquing Arsenal’s performance against Aston Villa in their 3-0 loss at the Emirates on Sunday, and it’s fair to say that he wasn’t impressed by what he saw.
The ex-striker named Bellerin as one player who struggled, stating that Jack Grealish caused him all sorts of problems, going as far as to state that Bellerin isn’t a defender.
“It’s the players that have to do the job on the pitch and they weren’t capable of doing it,” Campbell said.
“That’s the truth, they weren’t capable, and the problem is, Bellerin is not a defender. That is the bottom line, because Grealish doesn’t destroy other teams like that, he don’t destroy other teams, but Arsenal at the Emirates? He’s destroying us like that, I’m not having it.”
If Bellerin isn’t a defender, what is he?
An argument could be made that he’s a winger, after all, he’s got electric pace and has assisted three goals this season, but it’s not a role he has played often and Arsenal have better options down that right flank.
Bellerin didn’t look like much of a defender against Villa on Monday, it has to be said, but is there really another role for him at the club?
He’s got the ingredients to be a capable right-back, and he’s done a great job there before, but as Campbell said, when he is tasked with being strong at the back, he can be something of a liability.
Arsene Wenger, Unai Emery and Mikel Arteta all saw Bellerin’s best position at right-back, but Campbell seems to disagree with that sentiment.
It would be intriguing to see him given a go on the wing at some point, but with Willian, Nicolas Pepe and Reiss Nelson vying for that spot, it’s hard to see him being pushed further forward.
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