Bellerin ‘very happy’ at Arsenal, no Barca regrets

Hector Bellerin says he is “very happy” at Arsenal and has no regrets over leaving Barcelona, with whom he has been linked recently.

Bellerin played a starring role in Arsenal’s memorable 2-0 Champions League victory over Bayern Munich on Tuesday night, and has become the Gunners’ first-choice right-back ahead of Mathieu Debuchy after breaking through last season.

The Spaniard was born in Barcelona, left in 2011 to join Arsene Wenger’s side and has now been linked with a return in a similar situation to former captain Cesc Fabregas, but Bellerin insists he is “very happy” at the Emirates.

“That’s not me, they [Barcelona] have never asked [laughs],” Bellerin told Spanish newspaper Marca. “I came to Arsenal to stay, and am not planning to return. I’m happy and [am getting] minutes. It is my fifth season and I remain at home. I see very difficult to leave.”

“[I regret] nothing. I am very happy to have taken this step. The simple fact is playing as many minutes in the Premiership and in the Champions League in a team like Arsenal makes me very grateful.

“I appreciate that at 19 or 20 years it is difficult to give minutes to a player,” Bellerin said. “But Wenger argues that if you’re good enough you’re old enough.

“At first you focus on not making mistakes. It is difficult to express your best football, that comes with time. I am now fully adapted and I feel like an important player.

“In your second season there is always more expectations. In the first year you try to [show you belong] and in the second you have to prove it was not luck, you deserve to be there.”