Cascarino – Bellerín has “gone backwards”
Hector Bellerín has “gone backwards” for Arsenal, and is being shown up by his young protégé Ainsley Maitland-Niles, according to Tony Cascarino.
The speedy Spaniard has been considered to be one of the best full-backs in the country over the last few seasons, however despite being deployed in a more advanced position this season, Bellerín is yet to record a goal or an assist in 1,530 minutes of league action. Writing in The Times, Cascarino said;
I don’t know what has happened to Hector Bellerin, who has really gone backwards for Arsenal.
He was touted as one of the country’s best right backs, supposedly wanted by Barcelona, but he hardly got a kick in the first half last night [against West Ham]. He was offering very little in attack and he was caught out defensively on occasions.
We often question Arsene Wenger’s development of young players at Arsenal, and this could be another piece of evidence against the Frenchman.
The contrast was stark between Bellerin and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who was so much more effective at left back.
Arsenal are winless in three Premier League appearances, having not picked up all three points since they beat Huddersfield 5-0 in late November. On Saturday they welcome struggling Newcastle to the Emirates.