As far as Arsenal right-backs go, Lee Dixon takes some beating.

Dixon appeared 619 times for the club during his 15 years in north London before retirement in 2002. Winning four league titles and three FA Cups in that time, he knows what it takes to become an Arsenal legend.

Well, what better praise can Héctor Bellerín to receive than a seal of approval from such a successful Arsenal right-back from the past?

“He has got lots to learn but he certainly has the attributes to become one of the best right-backs the club has ever had,” Dixon has said.

51507544 arsenals lee dixon tries to hurry up gettyimages
Lee Dixon thinks Bellerín is on his way to something special. (MARTYN HAYHOW/AFP/Getty Images)

Bellerín has been Arsenal’s first choice right-back since midway through last season when, still just 19, he had to take over from the injured Mathieu Debuchy.Steve Bould, Arsenal’s assistant manager and a former teammate of Dixon’s, wasn’t immediately convinced.

Steve Bould, Arsenal’s assistant manager and a former teammate of Dixon’s, wasn’t immediately convinced.

“I spoke to Steve Bould about him just before he got in the side. We had problems at right-back. I asked if Bellerin was ready and Steve Bould just looked at me and said he wasn’t ready yet.

“They had to play him because of injuries. He hasn’t looked back.”

With Alex Iwobi managing something similar this season, it looks like young players sometimes just need a leap of faith, a chance to show they’re ready.