Hector Bellerin made his Arsenal debut as an 18-year-old in September 2013, when he came off the bench at West Bromwich Albion in a League Cup victory.
Over the next nine years, he would turn out another 238 times for the club, winning three FA Cups under Arsene Wenger, before playing under his former team-mate Mikel Arteta after Unai Emery’s short stint in the dugout.
Bellerin’s Arsenal journey began when he left Barcelona’s famed La Masia academy to sign for the Gunners as a 16-year-old and he admits that this move to the UK was the making of him as both a player and a person.
Bellerin reflects on his Arsenal journey
“I was very inexperienced in both football and life,” he tells FourFourTwo when quizzed about his arrival in north London. “I feel that the UK made me an adult and a professional, experienced player. Most of my growth happened in London.
“I was really lucky that the years I spent there, I had great team-mates and coaches, and opportunities to play top-level football. That was probably the most important part of my development as a person and as a player.”
Now 30, Bellerin is back in Spain with Betis, but he still looks back at his time at Arsenal fondly.
“I feel very nostalgic about it,” he continues. “I’ve been receiving so much love from Arsenal fans lately, which is beautiful.
“I went to London 18 months ago and bumped into loads of Arsenal fans. Even in Barcelona when I go to music festivals, there are always people wearing Arsenal shirts.
“The interactions I have with them truly fill me with joy. There are no negative thoughts at all about my experience over there, even though I went through tough times.”
Bellrin also has happy memories of his former stamping ground. “I loved the Emirates,” he continues. “Some of my favourite matches I’ve ever played were there. I know that stadium like the back of my hand – where the sun goes down and at what time.
“Man, I had so many great Champions League nights, and Premier League games with Spurs, Liverpool and Manchester United.”
