Arsenal youngster Hector Bellerin 'didn't know how to defend' at Barcelona before being schooled at Emirates by Steve Bould

Former Barcelona academy graduate Hector Bellerin admits he didn't know how to defend before being schooled by Steve Bould at Arsenal.

The 20-year-old, who is rated as the fastest player at Arsenal, has emerged as the club's first-choice right-back this season - an achievement he feels would not have been possible without the guidance of assistant coach Bould.

The Spaniard admitted his defensive issues at Barcelona before he arrived at the Emirates in 2011. 'When I first came to Arsenal, I didn't know how to defend,' Bellerin told the Sun. 

Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin admits he did not know how to defend before arriving at the Emirates

The 20-year-old has credited Arsenal's assistant coach Steve Bould (right) for his development

'If there was a person who I had to identify as helping me a lot, that would have to be Bould. I was a winger but from the Under-18s up, I remember him just showing me the basics.

'Even then, I remember him sometimes holding his head like, 'What is Hector doing?'. He's been one of the key people in my career. He's one of the reasons I'm here now.

'Steve was a top defender himself and has so much knowledge. Sometimes when he's speaking, I just laugh because he makes it look so easy and so obvious, and you haven't realised before. I really enjoy learning with him.' 

The former Barcelona academy graduate is recognised as the fastest player on Arsenal's books

Despite Arsenal's injury crisis, which includes Alexis Sanchez, Bellerin is confident the club can cope

Despite the Gunners suffering an injury crisis - with 10 players currently in the treatment room - Bellerin is confident that the squad has enough quality to endure a crucial period of the season, which includes a Champions League group decider with Olympiacos next week.

'I have said it before, there is great depth in the team,' he said to the Daily Star.

'There are a lot of young players in the team waiting to come through, and we have a lot of quality training with us every day.

'They are ready to step up so obviously every single player on the bench can do the same job as every single player in the starting XI. We don't need to worry about [the injuries to Alexis and Koscielny].

'The only thing we need to do is go out onto the pitch with the right mentality, it does not matter who we play.'

Former Arsenal defender Bould won three league titles in the heart of Arsenal's famed back four