Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin is facing a battle to prove his fitness for Thursday’s clash with Brighton, according to the Daily Mail.
The newspaper claim on their website that the £110,000-a-week star [Spotrac] is fighting to return against the Seagulls at the Emirates Stadium after missing the games against Eintracht Frankfurt and Norwich City.
The Daily Mail reports that Dani Ceballos is a definite absentee for the game against Brighton after complaining about his own hamstring injury.
It is suggested that Brighton will have Bernardo available for selection after the Brazilian recovered from an injury that has kept him out since August, whilst Solly March and Jose Izquierdo will miss out.
Should Bellerin be given the nod if fit?
Based on Ljungberg’s selection in his first game against Norwich, Bellerin being introduced would be a massive boost for the Gunners.
Calum Chambers was given the chance against the Canaries at right-back, but he lacks significantly in the final third, with Bellerin much more capable of offering a different dimension going forward.
The Spaniard has even outperformed Chambers defensively this season, averaging 2.5 tackles per game according to WhoScored – the most in the entire Arsenal squad.
Chambers is much more suited to a central role in defence, and it would be a no-brainer to bring in Bellerin should he be ready to return.
Ljungberg needs to go back to basics in North London, starting with the Brighton clash, and that is where he must select the best players available to him – Bellerin being one of those.
