The future of Hector Bellerin has been a point of discussion for Arsenal in the past week considering the Spaniard created the goal for Real Betis as they lifted the Copa del Rey. Bellerin left Arsenal on a season-long loan on deadline day after Takehiro Tomiyasu was brought into the team.
The Japanese international has been a huge success for Arsenal and only injury has dampened the hype around him. Bellerin’s time away has not convinced many that he still has a place in the team and reports emerged suggesting Betis would be looking to make the deal permanent.
However, there are parallels between Bellerin and fellow loanee William Saliba. Both did not have a place in Mikel Arteta’s plans this season and left to ensure regular game time.
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The differences are that at 20 years of age, the potential for Saliba to be a success at Arsenal remains. Whereas 27-year-old Bellerin looks to be on the way out.
When Arteta was asked about Saliba back in March, the Arsenal manager spoke of the progress he was making. Highlighting that minutes were not something he could guarantee.
“We are really aware of what he’s doing, how he’s developing,’ said the Gunners' boss. “He’s our player and we are really happy with the decision that we made because the exposure, minutes, responsibility and growth at his age is something we could not guarantee him this season. It makes a lot of sense what is happening with him, and we are glad to see him the way he is improving.”
Although a running theme throughout Arteta’s responses on the Frenchman have been the reiteration that he is ‘our player.’ This is something that has now cropped up in the coach’s summary of Bellerin’s situation when asked ahead of the match with West Ham this Sunday.
“Any player with a contractual obligation with us is our player and is considered our player. Every plan considers that possibility (that they could stay) and how they can fit into the team,” Arteta explained.
Now, this by no means hints that Saliba will leave the club like Bellerin is expected to this summer. However, what it doesn’t do is reassure the Arsenal supporters that Saliba’s future is with the team.
It seems that Arteta prefers to keep his cards very close to his chest. Although, this appears not to simply be the case with the media but with Saliba too.
Djibril Niang, Saliba’s agent, told journalist Freddie Paxton that even they are not in the know about what Arsenal wants to do. He said, “We still don’t know what Arsenal want to do with William. We will have a discussion about this very soon I think.”
Arteta and Saliba have their own focuses before the season finishes. Both want to see their sides qualify for next season’s Champions League. The defender even has the chance of silverware if he can help Marseille turn around a 3-2 deficit in next week’s UEFA Conference League semi-final second leg against Feyenoord.
The positive takeaway is with only a few weeks of the season left, the mystery regarding Saliba will get its answer soon. The summer will prove pivotal in determining whether the Frenchman’s long-term future remains with the Gunners or elsewhere.
