Hector Bellerin is only going to improve, according to former Arsenal right back Lee Dixon.
That is if the Spaniard continues to hold down his position as a starter ahead of Mathieu Debuchy.
Dixon had 14 years with the Gunners, making 619 appearances spanning a very successful period for the Gunners in which he picked up four league winners medals.
Bellerin took advantage of an injury crisis last season to get into the first team and Dixon says he hasn’t looked back since.
He’s taken his chance better than anyone thought.
I was talking to Steve Bould last season, when there were a few issues at right back and who was going to play, and Hector hadn’t had his chance yet.
But he got his chance through injury and he’s never looked back. He’s done way better than some people may have thought.
Bellerin was recently named Catalan Young Player of the Year for his breakout season. However, his rise wasn’t as straightforward as it seems. Making his debut in a defeat away at Borussia Dortmund, the 20-year-old had a tough night in the Signal Iduna Park. Since then, the transformation has been remarkable and he is beginning to knock on the door of the Spain senior squad.
Bellerin is set to be number one right back for many years, but Dixon knows he has more learning to do.
Although he catches the eye because of his pace, which is astonishing when you see him in full flow, he’s learning the game and that’s the important thing. He’s still a young lad who has got a long way to go, but when you sit down and analyse his game on a weekly basis you see that he’s doing very well indeed.
There are still areas of his game that he does have to improve on but that’s only natural because he’s so young, but as long as he keeps learning – and being in the first team every week will help – he will continue to improve.
