Arsenal defender Bellerin out for the season with knee injury

Joe Williams

Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin could be out for up to nine months after suffering knee ligament damage, according to reports.]

The Spaniard collapsed in agony during the Gunners 2-0 victory over Chelsea on Saturday and was carried off on a stretcher in the 72nd minute.

And now the BBC is reporting that Bellerin will be out until the end of the season, while multiple other reports claim he could miss up to nine months.

Surgery may be need to fix his ruptured anterior cruciate ligament with a source telling The Sun: “We’re seeking further medical advice but it does not look good.”

Arsenal medical staff could only take the defender for a scan yesterday due to the severe swelling around the joint.

The news comes as a major blow to Arsenal, who will have to rely on Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Stephan Lichtsteiner to cover, at such a crucial point in the season.