Arsenal star Hector Bellerin has admitted that he was close to leaving the club, but is now hoping to replace Mathieu Debuchy as the Gunners’ first choice right back, according to reports from the Daily Mail.

Debuchy only arrived at the Emirates Stadium from Newcastle United last summer, but has struggled with injuries for a majority of the campaign.

In his absence, Bellerin was given the opportunity in the first team, making his Arsenal debut in a Champions League group stage clash against Borussia Dortmund back in October.

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And the young Spaniard has excelled in the position, and is hoping that he can continue being a first-team regular in the future.

“I definitely want to remain first choice - that's what any player wants to do, week-in, week-out, in any position," he said.

“Mathieu has shown that he's a great player but he's been really unlucky with injuries. It's going to be a good fight.

“The spirit is really good between us in the dressing room so I think it's really positive that, in every single position, there's loads of top-quality players who need to fight for their spot. The fact that there's a good spirit gets the best out of everyone.

"If someone would have told me that this was a position I would do well in this season, I wouldn't have believed them.

"I was really close to leaving on loan again and was talking to the coaches about where to go next season but it turned out way differently."

Bellerin made his 25^th first team appearance when the Gunners faced Manchester United on Sunday, with the result ending in a 1-1 draw at Old Trafford.

Arsenal have tightened their grip to finish in 3^rd, which would automatically send the Gunners into the Champions League group stages next season.

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