Hector Bellerin reveals the differences between Barcelona and Arsenal are like 'night and day'

Ardenal defender moved to Arsenal at the age of 16 where he quickly realised he had to grow up fast if he was going to make it in the Premier League

Hector Bellerin quickly discovered the difference of playing at Arsenal rather than Barcelona (Getty)

Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin believes the differences between his time at Barcelona and Arsenal are like “night and day” after being thrown in at the deep end in upon his move to England as a 16-year-old.

Bellerin decided to leave his childhood club Barcelona in 2011 and join the Arsenal academy, before going on to make his first-team breakthrough two years later. The Spaniard quickly developed a reputation in the Premier League for his potential ability after forcing his way into the side at such a young age, and has attracted interest in the past from his former club as well as Manchester City.

The 22-year-old has re-established himself at Arsenal in recent months after a difficult period, with Arsene Wenger’s changes in tactic seeing Bellerin rotate between an advanced full-back and a wing-back on the right.

But that is far from the hardest change that he has had to learn to deal with, as the Arsenal defender explained at an Oxford Union talk on Tuesday night.

“It was like night and day, the difference between Barcelona and Arsenal,” Bellerin said.

“At Barcelona I was just eight-to-16 years old, when I came to Arsenal I was a professional footballer. At Barcelona we were just kicking around on the pitch, at Arsenal, my first day, there were no balls.”

Bellerin also spoke at the debating society about his interests outside of football, which have drawn criticism on social media from fans who believe he should focus only on matters on the pitch rather than off it.

But he has learned to ignore the negativity that he receives online about his life away from football and stressed that he, like everyone else, is allowed to have interests outside of his profession.

“So many people Tweet me saying focus on the game, having seen me at fashion shows or whatever, and I am just like 'don't worry',” Bellerin added.

“I am a human being. I have passions, I have hobbies but equally, I am a footballer and that is my main focus.”