Hector Bellerin has opened up on his decision to leave Arsenal and thanked ‘understanding’ Mikel Arteta for sanctioning his loan move to Real Betis.
Bellerin was a mainstay in Arsenal’s team for almost a decade, with the Spanish right-back making more than 200 appearances for the Gunners after breaking into the first-team in 2014.
In three successive seasons Bellerin played more than 40 games for the club but injuries and a loss of form became an issue towards the end of his time at Arsenal.
Bellerin asked to leave the club last summer and Arteta granted him his wish, with the 26-year-old signing a season-long loan deal with La Liga side Real Betis.
The former Barcelona academy player is relishing his spell back in Spain and has explained his motivation for leaving Arsenal in an interview with Gunners legend Ian Wright.
Speaking on the Wrighty’s House podcast, Bellerin said: ‘I was lucky that Mikel is someone who is very understanding. Mikel knew it was nothing to do with football or the club.
‘As people we go through cycles and it’s not because I don’t want to play there anymore, it’s just because this isn’t helping any of us.
‘When I know that it’s not the place where I need to be at that time, nothing works and Mikel really understood that. He knows everything I’ve gone through at Arsenal, my injuries, every single episode.
‘I was very lucky that I could be open with him and we could have a talk where he understood fully. He said, “I want to help you”. Not just as a coach but as a friend.
‘The respect we have as people is there and I was very happy that Arsenal gave me the opportunity to let me find what I was looking for. You could see at that time it wasn’t working for any of us.
‘It was clear in my head what I needed and I’m happy that it’s…
Source : metro
