Bellerin recalls that when he was 18, Arteta called him in for a talk, reminding him to learn financial management while also making him feel valued for the first time.

"When I got there that afternoon, he was sitting with a financial advisor, and they started asking, 'How much do you spend on this? How much do you spend on that?' I was young and had just started earning money, so I began spending it: buying clothes, buying cars—all the things we do when we're still a bit naive. I reported a very low amount, feeling embarrassed and ashamed, but I left with a lesson in humility and care.

“Arteta was the first person to make me feel important to him, to make me feel valued. He genuinely cares about you, even if it’s not with a hug. I said, ‘Thank you.’ He said, ‘I’d be happy if one day you could treat a teammate the same way.’ I’ve always tried to pass on the impact he had on me, making young players feel cared for. This really shows Arteta’s character.”

More than a decade later, these experiences, many of which took place in London, have shaped Bellerin. Arteta and Bellerin are 13 years apart in age; they were teammates back then, and now they are coach and player respectively, a role reversal that was not always smooth. On Wednesday, they will be opponents. The preseason friendly will be played at the Aviva Stadium rather than the Emirates, but it will still be special for Bellerin. The 31-year-old Real Betis wing-back has never faced his old club. His only opportunity came when he was on loan at Sporting Gijon, but he suffered a knee injury then – the timing felt too coincidental, making him wonder if it was psychological. Now, Arteta's Arsenal are Premier League champions.

"I have an incredible love for this club," he said, sitting on a sofa 30 miles west of Dublin, still in his training kit. He spoke passionately about Gnabry, Cazorla, and Nacho Monreal. He also recalled how Tomas Rosicky patiently taught him how to gain an edge in training, an experience he now shares with 19-year-old winger Jose Antonio Morante. Beyond football, he also talks about life, people, politics, speaking up, and refusing to stay silent: not because he intentionally seeks it, nor because he believes it can truly change anything, but because that is just who he is; it is his character.

He shared his views on the industry, admitting it often makes his "blood boil" and that he feels football has become "the greatest representation of greed." He talked about pressure and abuse. But he also spoke about how much he loves the Sport, how no matter how many other labels he carries, he remains a footballer, and always has been. He said he's "addicted" to football, fully committed to it, and deserves to be where he is. This time, however, he mainly spoke about Arsenal, with warmth in every word.

"There are still many players there who grew up with me: Saka, White, the head coach, the coaching staff, the staff. For me, it still feels like a big family. My gratitude and affection for them run very deep. I became a professional there. I'm sure that my way of life, my way of thinking, my conscience, and everything that makes me who I am already existed within me; it just needed a place to express itself. London gave me that space to explore my world and to mature. Some places might confine you, but London allowed me to expand myself and explore life."

At 16, he moved into a rented house in Twickenham, Enfield, in the Ridgeway area. He was taken in by Donna and John, along with their children, Tia and Ben. Bellerin came from Barcelona, and Jon Toral was with him – they had been teammates since they were 8, and Toral, who played in India last season, also embraced that new world alongside him. "Sunday roast was a tradition. I didn't understand why you could only have one meal on Sunday, and the rest was reheated the next day. That 'journey' was interesting: the last time I was in London, I went to a pub looking for a Sunday roast... turned out that place was already vegan. Kentish Town. A lot of my character traits come from England."

“The first thing Liam Brady, the academy director, gave Jon and me was an Oyster card. Jon would turn on Sky Sports, watch all the games, then watch darts, then snooker. We earned 400 euros a month, but that sense of independence was strong. I would ask Donna, ‘Where can I go?’ Camden, Covent Garden... play pool in Brixton. We weren’t overprotected, nor were we completely left to our own devices. For training, we had to take two buses and the Tube. In 12 years, I lived in all sorts of different places. During the pandemic, I lived in a 17th-century farmhouse in St Albans, where the only entrance was a dirt road.”

"I really wanted to go to their championship parade, but we had a game. I was also there during that transitional moment in Arteta's first year as coach. But we won the FA Cup, which was a key moment. After they won the league, many people messaged me, which made me very happy and made me feel like I was part of it. I know many people, and we all support Arsenal. That feeling was like a liberation, a release after waiting for so long."

"I also talked to Nacho Monreal and Cazorla: if only the three of us could go watch a game together. We were all in a small circle with Arteta. We knew that one day Arsenal would win the league under Arteta. In training, he would ask: 'How did you do it in Barcelona? I would do it like this...' Then I worked with him as his player for a year and a half, and I can say that 80% of my football understanding comes from Arteta's thinking. His vision is completely different. He has comprehension, observation, he can see tactical patterns, and his language is very unique. I can even say that he added a few years to my career. The way I play now is completely different from when I was 19. This is not just experience, but also many things I learned from Arteta: how to help teammates, how to create advantages in my own area. My goodness, I owe Arteta so much."

"It's a strange relationship, going from teammates to coach and player," Bellerin paused. "I'm not sure how we handled that transition at the time. But face to face, we always remembered the past, so we could talk openly. I had decided I had to leave, but it wasn't decided in one conversation; it came through many conversations over an entire year. I admire him greatly. Real Betis also came along when I needed it."

Why did you need it? He was silent for a moment. "There wasn't one specific reason. Some things happened, but it wasn't one concrete thing; it was more like a disconnect that made me feel I could no longer help the club, and the club could no longer help me. We handled it in the most amicable way. Perhaps I needed to be closer to my roots, closer to home. It had been a long time. Leaving a club like Arsenal is terrifying, really terrifying. To be honest, it's painful. You know very well that your time is over, but it's still your home. You've been there for 10 years, you've made friends, you've built a life... You don't know what's on the other side. Fortunately, I was very lucky."

Real Betis is special to him; his grandmother and father both support the club, as does the city of Seville. Bellerin found a sense of belonging there. From cycling to training every day, to writing classes, fashion design, veganism, and environmental activism, to his commitment to sustainability and his willingness to talk about toxic masculinity and the greed of football — all these things gave him a place to settle. He said: "What impressed me most was the changing room. There's a sense of 'equality' in the relationships with other staff. I've never felt that at other clubs. This is our core, what sustains us. It also aligns with my values. In Seville, I found a city that embraced me, allowing me to exist outside of football." On a football level, he, Real Betis, and Arsenal are all doing well. "It's good for both of us. Look at where Arsenal is now. We're in the Champions League, and we've won a cup. I'm in good form now. The decision back then was the right one. The Champions League final was painful, but that shouldn't overshadow Arsenal's progress. They are now where they should be, and it's a beautiful moment. To face them now — the best team in Europe — that's professional football."

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