Former Arsenal star Hector Bellerin has been full of praise for his old club when discussing his time playing for the Gunners.
The full-back was signed from Barcelona, joining the Hale End academy as an option for the future in the backline.
Hector Bellerin quickly rose through the ranks, becoming a first-team option for Arsenal at a young age and cementing himself in the team.
The Spaniard won the hearts of the fans at the Emirates Stadium, though a serious injury would go on to impact his career.
Bellerin couldn’t quite hit the same levels, and in 2022, he left Arsenal to pursue a challenge back at Barcelona.
Still only 30 years old, the defender is enjoying life at Real Betis, where he now admits there’s one thing about his old club he never realised until after he left.
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Hector Bellerin claims he didn’t realise how big Arsenal were as a club until he left
Having grown from a youngster into a top professional footballer in his time at Arsenal, Hector Bellerin had little time to stop and realise his trajectory.
From La Masia to Hale End to the Emirates Stadium, the defender became a hero with how quickly he worked his way into the team’s plans.
What he didn’t perhaps realise was just how big the Gunners are, as he admitted when speaking on The Rest is Football podcast.
He claimed: “A big thought that I have nowadays and it’s very recurring, was that when I was playing for Arsenal, I was really young, I basically became an adult in my time over there and now when I look at Arsenal games and I look at the club I think ‘wow, this club is so big’.
“I never even realised how massive, how important and how many people it affects, how many people support this club and just how big it is.”
With Arsenal fighting for the biggest trophies again under Mikel Arteta, with a swell of support behind him, it’s clear now just how huge Arsenal are.
That was outlined clearly by Bellerin claiming he wasn’t surprised by Arsenal beating Real Madrid, showing the level they are now at.
What is Hector Bellerin doing since leaving Arsenal?
Ever since making his exit from Arsenal, Bellerin has played for three different clubs across Spain and Portugal.
The defender joined Barcelona immediately after leaving the Gunners, spending just a few months there before joining Sporting CP.
Bellerin’s time in Portugal was short and sweet, too, as he quickly made a return to Real Betis, where he was once on loan from Arsenal.
| Club | Appearances | Goals | Assists |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barcelona | 7 | 0 | 0 |
| Sporting CP | 13 | 1 | 0 |
| Real Betis | 72 | 0 | 7 |
The 30-year-old has three years remaining under contract with Real Betis, where he has struggled to make many appearances this season through injury.
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