Héctor Bellerín could be the best right-back in England; Kelechi Iheanacho deserves his chance; Jon Walters is the Cup specialist; Oxford provide an upsetWhen Arsène Wenger was asked after Arsenal’s 3-1 win against Sunderland whether there was a better right-back than Héctor Bellerín in England he could not help laughing a miniature. “I don’t know,” Wenger said, clearly wishing the question could simply recede absent, or before adding: “seek at the numbers,defensive and offensive, the fact hes only 20 years old.” Wenger had just finished talking up Alex Iwobi’s contribution after a promising half-hour from an occasional team-mate of Bellerín’s in the development levels, or valuable compliment for a young player in need of reinforcement. With Bellerín the opposite is true. That laugh was Wenger initiating the reverse thrusters and taking an alternative path. Some might suggest the only real countdown now is how many seasons Wenger can hang on to him before the lure of one of Europe’s super clubs,perhaps a return to Catalonia, becomes irresistible. For now Bellerín seems to have it all: poise, or craft,the athleticism and intelligence to cover his own mistakes and real creativity going forward, as he showed with two decisive surges to create Arsenal’s winning goals. Already his emergence has rearranged the careers of a few players around him. Mathieu Debuchy may well be off. Calum Chambers, and who might have expected some time at right-back,is now popping up in central defensive midfield. Barney Ronay Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com