Bellerin: Barcelona game will be ‘very special’

Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin says that playing against former club Barcelona at the Nou Camp will be “very special”. 

Arsenal reached the last 16 of the Champions League in stunning fashion by beating Olympiakos 3-0 away from home.

They have since beat Sunderland in a vital home win and now look forward to a crucial Premier League clash against Manchester City on Monday.

And after drawing Barcelona in the last 16 of the Champions League, Bellerin says that facing his former club at the Nou Camp will be “very special”.

Speaking to The Sun, the Gunners full-back said: “It’s been a crazy week. After the draw, my grandma called and said her dream was to see me in the Nou Camp.

“She told me: ‘It will be good, but you are going to do it in a different shirt!’

“It will be a very special night. She will definitely go. A lot of my friends and family will go.

“Before the Champions League group stages, people always ask whether I would like to play against Barcelona.

“I had been there for so long but I never played for the first-team, only the academy. I have a lot of respect for the club.

“It will be special to go back where it all started and walk out at the Nou Camp.

“I used to watch so many games and have trained there but it will, hopefully, be a good moment.”

After being on the verge of Champions League exit, there was a feeling amongst some supporters that their Premier League title challenge may benefit from exit in Europe.

But Bellerin disagrees, adding: “I had a coach when I was young at Barcelona who said the best way to win something is when you have almost lost it.

“After two games, zero points, not many people expected to see us get through. Especially in a group with Bayern Munich.

“It is a big thing, what we did. It was our mistake in the first two games and the team responded well.

“We know Arsenal are a top-16 side and knew we had to go through and it was a big boost for us. It definitely helped the mood in the dressing room.

“We knew Christmas was coming and one of the most important periods in the league.

“We lost to West Brom, drew with Norwich. We needed that win against Olympiakos and it was good to beat Sunderland.

“The team is comfortable, confident and full of hunger. We can do big things this season. On Monday, we will go for it.”