Héctor Bellerín to Face Former Club Arsenal in Pre-Season Friendly

Former Arsenal full-back Héctor Bellerín faces his former club as an opponent for the first time on Wednesday in a pre-season friendly at the Aviva Stadium in Dublin, marking an emotional reunion with manager and former teammate Mikel Arteta.

From North London Cult Hero to Real Betis Return

Héctor Bellerín spent eleven years at Arsenal after arriving from Barcelona’s La Masia academy as a 16-year-old in 2011. Breaking into the first team in 2014, the Spanish defender established himself as one of the fastest full-backs in the Premier League, lifting three FA Cups and earning a reputation for both his pace and high football IQ during his time in north London.

After moving through a loan spell at Real Betis, a brief stint back at Barcelona, and six months at Sporting CP, Bellerín finally found stability by returning permanently to Real Betis. Now 31 years old, the full-back has never faced his former club in a competitive fixture. A potential meeting while on loan at Sporting was thwarted by an untimely knee injury, making Wednesday’s pre-season fixture at the Aviva Stadium his first opportunity to square off against the Gunners.

The Mentor Relationship That Shaped a Career

Long before they stood on opposite sides of the technical area, Mikel Arteta and Bellerín forged a deep bond as teammates. Early in Bellerín’s time in England, Arteta invited the teenager to his home not for dinner, but for a financial reality check.

“When I arrived that afternoon, he was sitting with a financial adviser and they started to ask: ‘How much do you spend on this?’ ‘How much do you spend on that?’. I was young, I’d just started to make money and spend money: on clothes, cars, the things we all do when you’re not really aware. I was pitching low. I felt embarrassed, ashamed, but I left with a lesson in humility and affection.”

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Héctor Bellerín, via The Guardian

Bellerín credits Arteta as the first player who made him feel valued at the club. That leadership style left a lasting imprint, with Bellerín noting that 80% of my football came through Mikel's mind during his formative years in north London.

Navigating Pandemic Isolation and the Arsenal Exit

While Bellerín maintains an incredible feeling of love for the club and still views staff members and players like Bukayo Saka and Ben White as family, his departure became necessary as the decade turned.

Héctor Bellerín to Face Former Club Arsenal in Pre-Season Friendly — Photo: AOL

His agent, Albert Botines, explained that the isolation Bellerín experienced during the Covid-19 pandemic—cut off from his family in Spain while living alone in north London—accelerated his desire for a change in scenery. After 10 years, Hector had in his mind that it was the right time to change, Botines said, pointing out that the decision encompassed the Premier League, the country, and his overall lifestyle.

Activism, Fashion, and Sustainability Off the Pitch

Away from the touchline, Bellerín has built an identity far removed from the modern footballer archetype. Known for his high-end fashion presence and commitment to environmentalism, he became the second-largest shareholder in Forest Green Rovers in 2020, aligning with a club recognized for its carbon-neutral footprint and entirely vegan operations.

His dedication to sustainable living recently earned him the BBC Green Sport Award. Bellerín wears second-hand clothing and shoes as part of his daily routine, emphasizing that public platforms carry an inherent duty to spark conversations about everyday environmental impact.

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