Hector Bellerin will miss Arsenal’s trip to Crystal Palace this weekend, as he continues to recover from his hamstring injury.

Just over a month ago, Hector Bellerin pulled out of the Arsenal squad to face Brighton with a hamstring injury. He returned to training last week, but Standard Sport claim the Gunners are still hesitant to rush the defender back.

Arsenal are still assessing the right-back, but he’ll miss this weekend’s match. Mikel Arteta confirmed as much in his press conference.

Looking at the positives, Arteta clearly prepared for this eventuality by starting Sokratis Papastathopouos on Monday. By the time Saturday rolls around, Ainsley Maitland-Niles will have had a 10-day break between games.

The 22-year-old certainly impressed against Manchester United. Arguably, he’s going to challenge Bellerin for the spot in the team even when the vice-captain fully recovers.

Arteta’s system seems to suit Maitland-Niles as well. It allows him to drift inside into a midfield role when Arsenal have the ball, whilst getting the best from his recovery runs at full-back out of possession.

That’s not to say it won’t work for Bellerin too. It’s just good to have a capable deputy taking the pressure off the right-back’s recovery.