Arsenal defender Hector Bellerin has insisted that he has the appetite for a battle with fit-again Mathieu Debuchy for the right-back slot this season.
The young Spaniard deputised in the absence of Debuchy for most of last term, after injury restricted the Frenchman to just 10 Premier League starts in his first season in North London following a move from Newcastle United.
However, with the 30-year-old back in action, Bellerin - 10 years his junior - is braced for a fight but welcomes the renewed sense of competition at the same time.
"I think the competition in every single position in the team is really strong," he told the club's official website. "That's going to make the team train harder, perform better and grow as players.
"We have to give our best. We know we can't relax, we know we can't take out starting position for granted when we have it. Even when you think you're going to play you need to train hard because otherwise it's on to the next one and you're going to be on the bench.
"I think it's very good and all the successful teams have that kind of battle in every single spot because that keeps you on your feet and makes you perform better. I know it's going to be difficult with Mathieu back now but I'm just going to keep training hard."
Bellerin has started Arsenal's last two Premier League games, while Debuchy started their opener - a 2-0 defeat to West Ham United at the Emirates.
Shane Callaghan
