Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin is expected to return to action sooner than it was first expected, according to reports in the Guardian.
The Spaniard who injured his cruciate ligament in January was one of the most important members of the Arsenal squad before his injury. Bellerin is targeting a return by the end of September.
The defender underwent surgery in Spain and the prognosis given to him was in the region of nine months but now his recovery is going faster than what the medical staff anticipated.
The 24-year-old could well return in time for the game against Aston Villa on the 22nd of September. The youngster was in fine form for the North London club before his untimely injury against Chelsea in a 2-0 home win on the 19th of January.
He was instrumental in Arsenal’s excellent mid-season form and with him in the side, the Emirates club would have had a better chance of finishing in the top four. His absence showed how crucial he was to the way manager Unai Emery had set up the team.
A lot of the Arsenal attacks were through the right-hand side and Bellerin’s pace and passing was key to what the club was trying to achieve on the pitch. The Gunners were lucky that Ainsley Maitland-Niles was able to replace Bellerin and perform quite well but it is clear that right-back is not the youngster’s preferred position.
Arsenal start their pre-season tour of the USA on the 16th of July and it will give the manager a chance to see how the squad is shaping up for the upcoming season. Emery is sure to give a lot of youngsters a run out especially due to the fact that many players are away on international duty.
The North London club will have to do without Bellerin in the initial stages of the season and that is a blow for sure. But the good news is that the Spaniard will be back soon and he is sure to shore up the Arsenal defense.
Arsenal will be trying their best to get back into the Champions League as this will be their third consecutive season in the Europa League. And Bellerin will definitely have a big role to play in the team’s success.
