Arsenal's Hector Bellerin tops list of Premier League's 'most creative players'

Hector Bellerin features in Premier League’s ‘most creative player’ list

Arsenal full-back Hector Bellerin has been nothing but sensational so far, nailing down a regular starting berth in Arsene Wenger’s team and the Spaniard has made a surprise appearance in a list of Premier League’s ‘most creative players’.

According to Opta, Bellerin has created more clear-cut chances than any other player in the Premier League this season. It’s hard to believe how the likes of David Silva and Cesc Fabregas have fallen short of that number and no other defender has created more than two. Sadly, the Arsenal forwards have been wasteful in front of goal so far this season and this has prevented Bellerin from racking up the assists.

Opta has defined ‘clear-cut chance’ as a situation where a player should reasonably be expected to score, such as a one-on-one or a close-range effort. Although, some may argue that the definition is too vague and open to interpretation.

There has been a tremendous improvement in Bellerin’s overall gameplay. The former Barcelona youth player has stamina as well as pace and this was proved when he clocked a faster sprinting time than Theo Walcott over 40 metres.

The Premier League tracking data has shown that he has run an average of 10.7km per game this season, just one place behind Aaron Ramsey, who is regarded as one of the league’s fittest players. On this evidence, it's not hard to see why the Spaniard has created a lot of clear-cut chances for his teammates up front.

Opta’s list of the top clear-cut chances makers reads as follows:

Hector Bellerin (6) – Dimitri Payet, Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil (5) – Jonjo Shelvey, Riyad Mahrez, Ross Barkley Sadio Mane (4).

Vicente del Bosque will surely keep a close watch on the young attacking full-back and it is only a matter of time until he is called up to Spain’s senior squad.

"If there is one position we don't have absolutely covered by two players, it's right-back," Spanish journalist Josep Minguella wrote in Mundo Deportivo last season.

"I shed a symbolic tear every time I see Hector Bellerin start for Arsenal, playing with composure and pace and even scoring goals. His departure was a pity."

The future looks bright for Arsenal and the rewards have been plentiful. It was indeed the right decision for Bellerin to have boarded on the first train to London and he has fast-tracked his career ever since then.

However, it could have been a different story if he had stayed at the Nou Camp and played deputy to the highly-experienced Dani Alves.