Hector Bellerin ready for Chelsea test with big performance vs FC Koln

In light of crowd concerns caused by an army’s-worth of FC Koln supporters, Arsenal held their nerve last night to come back from a goal down against the German outfit in the Europa League.

While that required a much-improved team performance from the Gunners in the second half after Jhon Cordoba’s stunning opener, some individuals particularly stood out – none more so than Hector Bellerin.

The three-cap Spain international put the icing on the cake for Arsenal with the final goal in a 3-1 win, but that only capped off what was a very strong performance from the Gunners’ right-sided defender.

Indeed, Bellerin was heavily involved both offensively and defensively, finishing up with two chances created, two dribbles, one shot, one tackle and four interceptions to his name, while completing an impressive 92% of his passes.

The 22-year-old’s place in the starting XI for the Premier League clash with Chelsea this weekend was never under threat.

But considering how influential the wide players have been during Arsenal’s last two wins over the Blues, with both sides utilising 3-4-3 formations, and how important left wing-back Marcos Alonso is to Chelsea’s game-plan, Bellerin’s form suggests he’s ready to play a key role for the Gunners on Sunday.