“It’s Not Positive” – Unai Emery Fears Long Lay-Off For Arsenal Star

Unai Emery believes Hector Bellerin will be out for a significant period…

Arsenal head coach Unai Emery fears Hector Bellerin will be out for a significant period after he went down unchallenged in our 2-0 win over Chelsea at the Emirates Stadium, The Evening Standard reports.

The Spaniard seemed to have he knee buckle underneath him as he closed down a few Chelsea players and after clutching his knee, Bellerin let out a scream of anguish.

The medical team rushed onto the pitch and immediately called for a stretcher and a leg brace which indicates that the 23-year-old has suffered a serious injury.

While we must wait for the scan, we’ve seen a similar scenario play out this season with Rob Holding and it’s no longer difficult to tell when a player has suffered significant knee ligament damage.

Emery has maintained that he hopes to be proved wrong, but the initial signs are worrying.

“We are going to wait tomorrow but it is his knee and the first prediction is that it can be an important injury but tomorrow or Monday the doctor will confirm,” Emery told reporters after the game.

“I hope not but it is not positive – our first impression.”

Bellerin had only just returned from a calf strain suffered at Southampton last month and the former Barcelona starlet has been in sensational form this term.

He was one of the main culprits at which fans directed much of their anger during Arsene Wenger’s final few years, but he’s excelled under Emery.

It’s no coincidence that our most difficult period of the season came during his absence, and it seems we’ll now have to get creative to cover for him once again.