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Player of the Season - in third place...

This week we'll announce the Vitality Player of the Season - as voted for by the fans.

In third place is Hector Bellerin. The Spanish right back picked up where he left off in 2015 and was an ever-present in Arsene Wenger’s side.

Arsenal.com reporter Max Jones gives his verdict on the 20-year-old.

“He was always questioned for his defensive responsibility and that’s where he has improved the most, without losing his drive going forward.”

Like the manager, you have to admire Hector Bellerin. 

As the 20-year-old has admitted, for a young professional the second season is always the hardest. The element of surprise has gone, the fans’ expectations are higher and the opposition want to cut you down to size.

One-season wonders are not uncommon but Bellerin is at the other end of the scale. Not only did he build on his breakthrough campaign, he ended it in the PFA Team of the Year after impressing his peers as well as his manager.

Like any season, there were ups and downs, but it was the way the Spaniard responded to the tougher moments which impressed fans the most.

The defender faced the unenviable task of marking Bayern Munich’s Douglas Costa in October and at first had a tough time dealing with the lively Brazilian. 

However, within 15 minutes the 20-year-old had got the better of Costa and by the end of the match had claimed a brilliant assist for Mesut Ozil in stoppage time, intercepting the ball midway in the Bayern half and racing into the box to showcase his pace, energy and vision.

From there, Bellerin went from strength to strength as Arsenal’s first-choice right back and ended the season with six Premier League assists, more than any other defender.

Still with his whole career ahead of him, things will certainly only get better for Arsenal’s No 24.

Hector Bellerin's Key Stats

Hector Bellerin's Key Stats

 

 

 


WHAT THEY SAID:

“He is always ready to hurt you going forward with his pace and that is electric. That makes him very difficult to play against. “When you look at the future, you think there is a lot more to come from him defensively, and offensively he is already at a top, top level. That is very positive.”
Arsene Wenger

“Hector was simply a revelation this season and also last season as well. He's a young player, only 20 years old, but he plays like a guy who is 30. When I was 20 like him, I was scared every time I had to play at the beginning, but he's not. That's the secret for him, that he's so confident in himself. I'm 100 per cent sure he will play for the Spanish national team.”
Nacho Monreal

“He is enjoying a very high level, but I think he can give even more. He has the potential to be one of the best in the world. He is showing that now, but he is still very young and he has a long way ahead. So I think the best of Hector is yet to come, we haven't seen it yet.”
Joel Campbell

 

Gabriel and Hector Bellerin

Gabriel and Hector Bellerin

 


HECTOR’S FINEST MOMENTS:

Swansea City 0-3 Arsenal
Premier League
October 31, 2015

It looked as though Bafetimbi Gomis had to break the deadlock. The Swansea striker - with the scores still level - had been played clean through on goal and was a good 15 yards clear of Hector as the Arsenal defender crossed the halfway line. Gomis raced towards Petr Cech and rounded him, but was denied by an impeccably-timed last-ditch sliding tackle. The resulting corner was cleared and Arsenal ended up winning 3-0 - but things could have been different were it not for Hector’s crucial intervention.

Arsenal 3-1 Sunderland
FA Cup third round
January 9, 2016

Hector provided eight assists in all competitions - and this was one of his best. Arsenal led Sunderland 2-1 late on in their FA Cup third-round fixture when the full back collected Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain’s pass midway inside the visitors’ half. He took the ball just inside the area but, with four defenders in the area and only Olivier Giroud to aim at, there looked to be little danger. Hector feigned to cross, Patrick van Aanholt backed off and the full back threaded a superb through ball to Giroud, who scored from close range.