Arsenal Dealt Bellerin Injury Blow

By Max Wise

Arsenal have been dealt a major injury blow with the news that 23-year-old defender Hector Bellerin faces the prospect of missing up to nine months with an Anterior Cruciate Ligament injury.

Bellerin sustained the injury in the second half of Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Chelsea in the Premier League at the Emirates Stadium on Saturday.

Bellerin, who had just returned to the starting eleven for the first time since suffering a calf injury in December, was carried off on a stretcher after going down the pitch unchallenged.

Hector Bellerin joins Rob Holding and Danny Welbeck as long term absentees for the Gunners.

It remains to be seen though whether Unai Emery will dip into the transfer market for a replacement as they currently have Stephan Lichsteiner, Ainsley Naitland Miles and Carl Jenkinson, who can all fill in for the Spaniard at right back.

“We have Ainsley. He can help us by playing like a right-back or a right-winger. And also, Lichtsteiner is another player for playing there and I think we have players,” Emery told reporters after the Chelsea game.

“I don't forget Jenkinson because he is with us, he played some matches and if we need [him], he is okay to help us.”

Bellerin has been one of Arsenal’s most impressive players this season, having featured 19 times and recorded five assists for the Gunners