‘Arsene Wenger liked to compare football with art – he said they’re connected because football is a method of self-expression’ Hector Bellrin on what made his former Arsenal boss so special

During his ten-year career with Arsenal, Hector Bellerin would win three FA Cups, break into the Spain national side and establish himself as one of the Premier League’s best attacking right-backs.

He spent the majority of his Gunners stint playing under Arsene Wenger, before the Frenchman called time on his 22-year spell in north London at the end of the 2017/18 campaign.

And it’s clear that Wenger’s philosophies struck a chord with Bellerin, a free-thinker who was always quick to stand out from the crowd of his contemporaries.

Hector Bellerin on Wenger’s management style

“Arsene liked to compare football with art, and said they’re connected because football is a method of self-expression, just like art is, too,” Bellerin tells FourFourTwo. “You could see that philosophy in the way he trained the team, the way he wanted us to play.

“He wasn’t tactically obsessed, he was more focused on creating a place where we could enjoy ourselves. His philosophy was, ‘If you’re a part of the first team, you’re professional and know what you have to do, and my duty is to give you enough tools for you to thrive.’

“I felt that when we played and the whole team genuinely connected with that feeling, that was some of the best football you can play. It was beautiful.”

Unai Emery was given the task of following Wenger in the Emirates dugout, but lasted less than 16 months before he was replaced by Mikel Arteta, who Bellerin had played alongside at Arsenal.

“Mikel is a tactical genius – he taught me so much,” Bellerin continues.

“He and Wenger were two sides of a coin. Good football is when you have the right balance between both of their philosophies.

“I’m glad that Arsenal have been doing so well in recent seasons with Mikel as the boss, and also some young players who started to train with the first team when I was there. It was such a joy and I feel so proud of them – I’m like a proud dad, and it makes me happy.

"I always look forward to going back to the Emirates to watch a game and enjoy the energy of the fans.”