On deadline day, Arsenal loaned Hector Bellerin out to Real Betis; the loan is a straightforward one with no options to buy.

Hector Bellerin at Real Betis
Hector Bellerin at Real Betis

Bellerin had been the starting right-back for Arsenal for years; he climbed up the ranks of the club from the youth team and made 183 appearances, scoring eight goals in the process.

The player himself was adamant he wanted to leave the club, which shows in the pay-cut he took to join Real Betis. However, the club also felt it was time to move on and find a new starting right-back.

If one looks at Arsenal’s transfers this window, it isn’t hard to figure out that they are in a complete rebuild phase. The club is focusing on young players, and as Edu, the Technical Director for Arsenal, explained in his press conference, the club is planning long-term and looking to build a strong foundation.

What Impact Will The Loss Of Bellerin Have On the Club?

Bellerin was one of the key players for Arsenal before his ACL injury; he was even named in the 2015-16 PFA Team of The Season. However, he has never been the same ever since he returned from his injury. He missed almost half of the games in the last two seasons and isn’t as pacey as he once was.

The club has already been in the process of moving on from Bellerin since his injury in 2018. His loss is something that was inevitable, and the club management is smart enough to know that. Arsenal has already hit rock bottom; losing a player like Bellerin will not do as much damage as some people might think. If you’re an Gunner fan looking to back Arteta to be a success this season, then betting24 has the best odds for you.

How Will Arsenal Replace Bellerin?

Arsenal has already found the successor for Bellerin; their deadline day signing from Serie A side Bologna, Takehiro Tomiyasu, is a 22-year right-back who is set to replace Bellerin in the squad. He is a young kid with the potential to make it among the greats in the Premier League. The Bellerin loan was finalized keeping the signing to Tomiyasu in mind; Arsenal wanted to maximize his playing time, which is why they loaned Bellerin out. As Edu said in his press conference:

“At right-back, we just signed Takehiro Tomiyasu. He is someone who can come here and play straight away because we loaned Hector Bellerin to allow space for him to come and feature straight away.”

This shows that Arsenal had all their plans set before loaning out Bellerin.

Tomiyasu is a Japanese international, who joined Bologna in 2019 from the Belgian side Sint-Truiden. His potential is through the roof, and the player hasn’t disappointed so far. He made 61 appearances for Bologna, scoring 3 goals, and was a regular starter at the right-back position. Serie A is probably the most defense-oriented league in Europe; if Tomisayu can make it in Serie A, he won’t fail in the Premier League.

He is a solid defender with a lot of pace and can also play as a center-back, which is exactly what the Premier League demands. He has the potential to be the next Kyle Walker if Arsenal work intelligently with him and help him reach his full potential.

Overall, Arsenal won’t be challenging for the Premier League title any time soon. Nevertheless, if the signings they have made blossom into the players they are expected to be, and things go as planned for Arsenal, they can become a formidable side in a span of three to four years.