By Max Jones
Brandon Ormonde-Ottewill has hailed Hector Bellerin after his former under-21 team-mate made the step up to first-team football.
Speaking after Arsenal Under-21s’ 1-0 win against Reading on Friday, the 18-year-old explained how the Spanish full-back’s rise is an inspiration to him and his fellow young Gunners who are targeting first-team action.
"Last season gave me a lot of challenges against top wingers, as we were in the top league"
“Hector is flying at the moment and everyone’s happy for him,” Ormonde-Ottewill told Arsenal.com. “All I can do is keep working hard and worry about my own performances in order to push on.
“I want to maintain my position in the under-21s and, who knows, make my debut for the first team in the Capital One Cup.
“I’ve definitely got a lot of experience at this level. Last season gave me a lot of challenges against top wingers, as we were in the top league. I’m a third year now and I’ve got the experience to help the younger players.”
And the most immediate thing on Ormonde-Ottewill’s mind is to help the young Gunners secure promotion to Division One of the Under-21 Premier League, starting with Thursday’s game against Derby County at Meadow Park.
“It’s definitely doable,” the left-back said. “If we keep playing like how we did [against Reading], I don’t see how it’s not possible. We played really well.
“It was always going to be a tough game against Reading but I thought the organisation was really good.
“I don’t know too much about Derby but I’m sure they’ll be organised like Reading. I think with another performance like this one, we should come out on top.”
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