Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin has been linked with a move away from the club.
Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin has recently been linked with a move away from the club, though considering his current form it feels the North Londoners may have previously overplayed their hand.
The Spain international was widely regarded as one of the best young talents in the Premier League, prompting interest from his former club Barcelona as well as Juventus.
In the summer, reports in the Mirror suggested that Barcelona were planning a £40 million bid for his services but Arsenal’s stance on the player put off the La Liga giants who instead opted for the cheaper Nelson Semedo.
The Gunners’ apparent refusal to seek a deal for Bellerin was admirable, but now they could find themselves in a tricky situation where it appears they may have missed a trick by not striking a big-money deal.
Bellerin’s form has declined significantly this season, and Arsenal on the whole have struggled to challenge for the Premier League’s top four and look in danger of missing out on Champions League football again.
| Interceptions per game | Duels Lost per game | Successful Dribbles per game | Dribbles Overrun per game | Unsuccessful Touches per game | Accurate Crosses per game | Appearances | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2016-17 | 1.09 | 4.03 | 1.36 | 0.15 | 1.15 | 0.33 | 33 |
| 2017-18 | 0.62 | 4.69 | 0.79 | 0.31 | 1.21 | 0.24 | 29 |
As shown by the stats provided by Opta, the 22-year-old right back has struggled this season, recording on average less interceptions, less successful dribbles and fewer accurate crosses compared to last term.
Moreover, Bellerin has been sloppy in possession, with more unsuccessful touches and overrun dribbles this season, while in one to one duels with his opposite winger he has lost more this time around.
Recent reports in the Guardian claims the defender is seeking an exit from Arsenal as he questions the direction of the club, yet Barcelona appear no longer interested as reports in Mundo Deportivo suggest.
It leaves Juventus as another option, but the Daily Mail claim the Italian champions have a broad agreement to sign Manchester United’s Matteo Darmian – denting Bellerin’s options further.
His situation no doubt needs addressing in the summer, but if Arsenal decide to sell, they could struggle to find a buyer willing to pay anywhere near the reported figures cited for his signature nine months ago.
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