HECTOR BELLERIN is taking painkillers so he can play through the pain of his groin tear and boost Arsenal’s hopes of qualifying for next season’s Champions League.
The Gunners need to finish in the top five to break into the Champions League next season – and now sit just five points adrift, with a game in hand.
Bellerin is said to be playing through the pain with then help of medicationCredit: Rex Features
And Bellerin, 24, is playing his part in chasing the European dream, popping pills to ensure he is on the pitch and helping his side, according to the Athletic.
The Spaniard picked up a hamstring injury in December and missed a little over a month before returning to action on January 21 – scoring in the 2-2 draw with Chelsea.
Bellerin has played a further six times, including in wins over Newcastle, Everton and West Ham.
Arsenal sources told the Athletic that Bellerin is doubling his efforts in training in a bid to be ready for his side’s run-in, with ten Premier League games to play.
But it was those additional drills that caused the Spaniard’s latest injury – a minor tear in his right groin – sustained in then run-up to last month’s win over Newcastle.
Reports now claim he is only playing with the help of pain killers – having only played a full 90 minutes ten times since returning from his knee injury last year.
The former Watford loanee missed eight months after rupturing the cruciate ligament in his left knee.
Ever since, he has been forced to battle numerous niggling injuries, with former boss Unai Emery and now Mikel Arteta left worryingly short.
Midfielder Ainsley Maitland-Niles has deputised at right-back for most of the past two seasons.
It’s clear Bellerin is still not at 100 per cent, after he started on the bench against West Ham on Saturday.
What was more worrying was the fact Arteta was willing to play big centre-back Sokratis Papastathopoulos out of position rather than start Bellerin.
The knock to the upper leg is said to be causing the flying right-back problems in crossing the ball.
Having been knocked out of the Europa League, Arsenal now have a much less-congested few months, compared to the hectic winter.
Bellerin will therefore be afforded plenty of rest days between matches as he hopes to drag Arsenal – currently sitting ninth – up the standings.
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Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
