Bellerin: I couldn’t defend before joining Arsenal

Ian Watson
Hector Bellerin: Wants fans to stay calm

Hector Bellerin: Wants fans to stay calm

Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin has praised Gunners coach Steve Bould for teaching him how to defend.

Bellerin moved to Arsenal from Barcelona in 2012, and has established himself as a fixture in Arsenal’s first team this season.

“When I first came to Arsenal, I didn’t know how to defend,” Bellerin said.

“If there was a person who I had to identify as helping me a lot, that would have to be Bould. I was a winger but from the Under-18s up, I remember him just showing me the basics.

“Even then, I remember him sometimes holding his head like, ‘What is Hector doing?’ He’s been one of the key people in my career. He’s one of the reasons I’m here now.

“Steve was a top defender himself and has so much knowledge. Sometimes when he’s speaking, I just laugh because he makes it look so easy and so obvious, and you haven’t realised before. I really enjoy learning with him.”