Arsenal's Arteta: "Bellerin was a really important player for our club"

Alba Romero 2 years ago 3.2k |

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Hector Bellerin to play against his former team. AFP

Arsenal will face Sporting CP in the first leg of their Europa League last-16 tie on Thursday. Hector Bellerin signed for the Portuguese side in January and will be reunited with his former club. The Spanish player will have to bite the bullet and fight for qualification.

Sporting CP defender Hector Bellerin played for Barcelona but did not get many chances so he decided to look for a new destination in Portugal. The 27-year-old joined Sporting in the January transfer window.

However, the Spanish footballer will have to face his former club in the Europa League: Arsenal. Mikel Arteta spoke about Bellerin today at Thursday's pre-match press conference.

"I love Hector. I absolutely love the person and the player. He was a really important player for our club, one who left something beyond just his career but as a person at our football club.

"It will be great to see him tomorrow, and I’m sure the boys and the staff will be really happy to see him again," the coach said.

March 8, 2023

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Europa League

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Arsenal

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Sporting CP

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Héctor Bellerín

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