It was a proud night for Hector Bellerin on Thursday as he captained us for the first time as we beat Standard Liege 4-0.
Our full-back spoke to the media after the game and discussed the team's attacking desire, taking the armband and Gabriel Martinelli.
This is what he said:
on the performance…
I think it was a great win for the team, for the spirit and for the momentum that we’re building in the team and for us this competition is really important. We came into this game after beating Nottingham Forest at home in the Carabao Cup and it was a similar kind of game in which the team never stop giving 100 per cent even when we’re 3-0 up or 4-0 up. We want to score more goals and we want to play 100 per cent because that’s the best way to show respect in football, always playing 100 per cent and that’s what the team did and even those who came on as a sub, they gave everything so for us it’s something that we can take a lot of positives from to keep on improving.
on his first game as captain…
For me there’s not a better way to come back, I feel very honoured to wear the Arsenal armband and to lead the team out the tunnel and I’m very grateful that my team-mates and the coaches trust me to do that.
on making his comeback…
It’s been a tough road for me for the past eight months but I feel very lucky with the people that I had around me and all the physios and the coaches and all the players and obviously my friends and family have helped me a lot. Even though it’s been very dark at times, it’s very beautiful to be able to make a debut [as captain] and play a game like this, and enjoy my football like that.
on the options young players give Unai Emery…
The most important thing that the manager says is that anyone, doesn’t matter who it is, doesn’t matter how old, or how much you play, everyone is important in this team and that’s making everyone really hungry. You can see how Gabriel has been important to the squad, he hasn’t looked back and he’s playing 100 per cent and you can see, it’s not only the goals - he’s a player that’s the first to defend and win a lot of balls back. I think that gives the team a lot and it’s really important for everyone to keep up this mentality you know. Whatever the result, we want it more and we want to push and we want to be strong and we want to make the Emirates a fortress and this is the way to do it.
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