We are at that stage of the season where you'll flick on the TV or scroll through your phone and be welcomed by endless amounts of transfer news or postponement controversy. As Arsenal fans, it's become part of our daily lives.
However, amongst all of the chaos, I was reminded just how much we can forget about other things that are happening within football. The sad truth is, I totally forgot Hector Bellerin was still an Arsenal player until his name popped up again the other day!
It's kind of crazy when you think about it, a three-time FA Cup winner who made over 230 appearances for the Gunners, yet the thought of him has easily slipped our minds.
It must be said that it's nothing personal, but I suppose it highlights what a crazy season it has been so far following a £150 million spending spree last summer. As new players came in, Hector was one of the last transfers to be sealed, joining Real Betis on a season-long loan.
Since switching the Premier League for La Liga in August of 2021, the Spaniard has made 19 appearances whilst providing four assists in the process. The most encouraging part of his season so far though, is perhaps the fact he has managed to stay injury-free.
Between December 2018 and December 2019, Bellerin was sidelined for 315 days, missing a total of 49 matches. A large part of that was down to a cruciate ligament rupture which the defender suffered against Chelsea and It is an injury that, in hindsight, ultimately brought his Arsenal career to a standstill.
The setbacks and subsequent effects that Hector encountered will always be one of my biggest regrets as an Arsenal fan. It wasn't in our control, but seeing such an exciting and talented player slowly lose ability and confidence was painful to witness.
For me, Bellerin was one of the best right-backs in the Premier League over the course of the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons in particular, in addition to being one of the most promising in Europe.
It's a shame that it ended how it did, and although he is still technically an Arsenal player, it's difficult to see where the 26-year-old would fit into Mikel Arteta's plans moving forward.
One thing that is clear, however, is that what was once Bellerin's fan favourite right-back status is now well and truly in the hands of Takehiro Tomiyasu.
The Japanese international was signed as a replacement for the Arsenal loanee in a deal worth around £16 million on transfer deadline day, and it's safe to say that he has been a revelation since.
Tomiyasu's success since arriving in north London has made Hector Bellerin a big fan of the player, and he revealed his feelings on the current situation at the Gunners whilst speaking on Ian Wright's Spotify podcast 'Wrighty's House'.
"Arsenal are doing amazing and that makes me so happy," Bellerin said.
"The player they got in my position – Tomiyasu – he is doing great. No hard feelings. It is beautiful to see because I still watch every game and I want the guys to do well. It's how football goes. You need to see when it is your time and when it is not.
"I always said to the club if I leave this place I don't want to leave you guys without anyone in my position or in a position when you guys can't be in the best terms."
These quotes should be a reminder that no matter what your thoughts are on Hector, he will always be a classy person on and off the pitch.
It sounds like he knows that being a part of Arsenal's first-team setup once again will be a tough task, and with the direction in which the club is heading in with transfer policies and squad changes, it's fair to say that a permanent move in the summer is the most likely outcome.
If this does indeed end up being the case, Bellerin could bring a fair amount of money into the club which Edu can reinvest as Arteta's rebuild continues.
As it stands, Bellerin has a value of £18 million according to Transfermarkt. Admittedly, Arsenal may not be able to get that exact fee for him, but it gives us a good indication of how much we could potentially see the club receive from his sale come next summer.
Arsenal have far more pressing matters in terms of transfer business over the coming months, with midfield and striker reportedly viewed as priorities. However, a backup right-back could also be looked at.
Tomiyasu's start to life as a Gunner has got off to an exceptional start, and following in the footsteps of someone like Hector will be no easy task. Despite this, Bellerin's latest quotes can signal the end of uncertainty in this area of the team and will hopefully offer more transparency for when he returns.
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