This article is part of Football FanCast's In Numbers series, which takes a statistical look at performances, season-long form and reported transfer targets... 

Having been out for so long through injury, many would have anticipated that Hector Bellerin would take some time to adjust to the pace and intensity of football once again. The Spaniard has been eased into action since making his return to the first-team earlier this campaign, but unfortunately for both him and Arsenal, he has looked way short of the standards, averaging a measly 6.2 match rating in the Premier League as per Whoscored.

The north London side have used Calum Chambers -a more natural centre-back - at right-back to accommodate for Bellerin's absence, and so when the latter came back into the reckoning, the Gunners may have been forgiven for believing their woes in that position had well and truly disappeared. But just like the team as a whole, the 24-year-old has struggled. And on Thursday night against Brighton, he produced a truly shocking display.

As per Sofascore, his 5.9 match rating was the worst of any player on the pitch at the Emirates, and when looking at the underlying numbers, it is easy to see why. The Spaniard lost possession 15 times over the course of the game, as he looked physically drained by having to get up and down the pitch. Needing to provide an attacking outlet, as well as getting back to help out on Brighton's counter-attacks, took its toll on Bellerin, and so whenever he found himself with the ball at his feet, he invariably made poorly executed decisions.

A number of times the 24-year-old tried to just back his natural speed and athleticism by knocking the ball past the Seagulls defender and trying to chase on to it, but he was easily denied most times. And whenever he did get the chance to deliver the ball into the box, his crossing was wayward, completing none of his four attempted crosses.

And his defensive effort left a lot to be desired too. Bellerin made no tackles whatsoever, and lost 11 of his 14 total duels. It was the kind of overall display that really does raises serious questions about whether he can fully recover from his horror injury. So many players have seen their careers fall by the wayside due to either recurring problems, or lengthy injuries like the one the Gunners full-back fell to. The north London side have got a major conundrum on their hands.

Meanwhile, Arsenal fans have slammed this ace for a truly awful display against Brighton.