Hector Bellerin calls Liverpool the best pressing team in Europe

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Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin was part of the side which lost 3-1 to Liverpool on Monday night.

The Gunners resume their rivalry with the Reds tomorrow night in the EFL Cup, although the players involved in the two matches may well be very different.

As per the Herald, Bellerin has claimed Liverpool are Europe’s best pressing side.

He says that makes them difficult to play against but that Mikel Arteta’s side won’t change their approach in response.

“When you build a new identity, a new way of playing, it’s not something that happens overnight,” said Bellerin. “It’s something that takes a lot of time, losses, wins, a lot of learning.

“We’ve got new players that have come in this season and they need to get used to the system. This is our game.

“This is what we have been training since Mikel has been here, so just because a team is the best in Europe at doing that (pressing), doesn’t mean we change the way we play.

“We should all be proud that we stick by what we know. Sometimes it is difficult. Not every game is going to be easy.”

Bellerin is right to say Arsenal stuck to their principles on Monday night – and it almost worked.

If Alexandre Lacazette scored his big second half chance, Arsenal may well have left Anfield with a result.

It takes courage and skill to play out from the back against Liverpool’s pressing and Arsenal managed to do that at times, sticking to their own strengths.

They will get another chance to do that this week, in what looks set to be a battle of the clubs’ second string elevens.