Bellerin - Why I’m more confident now

Hector Bellerin believes his increased self-confidence will help him to improve this season.

The young full-back made 28 appearances during an encouraging 2014/15 breakthrough campaign in which he scored his first professional goal and helped Arsenal to win the FA Cup.

Bellerin recovered from injury to start the club’s last two matches and says he is determined to continue his development this season.

“I’ve had a few people talk about second-season syndrome but I really don’t believe in it,” he told the Arsenal Weekly podcast. “I think after a breakthrough season, what you have to do is keep going from where you left off.

“People say ‘Yeah, but people know how you play now’ but I’ve got the confidence knowing I’ve played 30 games already so I’m more confident in the games.

“It can always go both ways. It’s very difficult in football to always perform at your best level.

“You’re going to have ups and downs but that has got nothing to do with the first or second season.

“I just need to keep training and playing the way I was last year, keep learning and keep getting experience, and hopefully having some good performances.”

Bellerin says he is relishing competing for the right-back slot with Mathieu Debuchy.

“I think the competition in every single position in the team is really strong,” he added. “That’s going to make the team train harder, perform better and grow as players.

“We have to give our best. We know we can’t relax, we know we can’t take out starting position for granted when we have it.

“Even when you think you’re going to play you need to train hard because otherwise it’s on to the next one and you’re going to be on the bench.

“I think it’s very good and all the successful teams have that kind of battle in every single spot because that keeps you on your feet and makes you perform better.

“I know it’s going to be difficult with Mathieu back now but I’m just going to keep training hard.”