Arsenal were victorious in the opening match of their United States pre-season tour defeating Colorado Rapids with relative ease 3-0. A number of the club’s promising youth prospects played their part during the first half before more senior figures took the field for the final 45 minutes. One notable name missing from the squad has been Hector Bellerin who has been out through injury since the turn of the year, though, his latest decision has left Arsenal fans heaping praise on the Spaniard.
Bellerin turned up to the Fox and Hound pub in Los Angeles to watch the match with a number of their American supporters and was filmed chanting with them. This brilliant gesture has led to some supporters claiming that the 24-year-old should be appointed club captain upon his return to the side.
Video: Héctor Bellerín chanting with Arsenal fans while watching the club’s pre-season friendly against the Colorado Rapids in the Fox & Hound pub in Los Angeles. [@julianesquee] #afc https://t.co/iBtmAOa4R0
— afcstuff (@afcstuff) July 16, 2019
Arsenal’s captaincy situation is taking a turn for the worst with current choice Laurent Koscielny refusing to travel on their pre-season tour. The Frenchman has a year to run on his current deal but would like to be released from The Gunners so he can return to his home country this season. Manager Unai Emery has also lost a couple of leaders in Petr Cech and Aaron Ramsey this summer so a potential void in captaincy could soon become a problem.
Bellerin has been at the club since 2011 when he made the switch from Barcelona as a 16-year-old. He has gone on to make 181 appearances for the senior side making him one of the longest-serving players and potentially an ideal option for captaincy next season. The Spain international has currently been out of action since Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat to Chelsea in January with a nasty injury to his ACL and will miss the start of the season.
That’s not enough to put off some Arsenal fans however with many wanting their first-choice right-back to be named as captain ahead of the 2019/20 season.
You can read a selection of thoughts from Arsenal’s fanbase below:
That’s our Captain
— Corey Bishop (@CoreyBishop21) July 16, 2019
My captain!
— Red White Gooner ????⚪️ (@RedWhite_Gooner) July 16, 2019
Captaincy material
— Apurva Trivedi (@Apu_T) July 16, 2019
Why we love Hector…????????????????
— Man about Town (@phowl8053) July 16, 2019
Great gesture by Hector
— Adriano Perdhana (@adrianoprd) July 16, 2019
Such a classy move.
— Jon Hume (@humedini) July 16, 2019
The new captain ❤️
— Abude ???????? (@abude_gooner) July 16, 2019
Next season’s captain
— Mafosha (@Gunnerzdiehard) July 16, 2019
Hector, Our Captain
— Bryan Lakey (@Bryan_Lakey) July 16, 2019