Arsenal's Spanish defender Hector Bellerin receives attention on the pitch after clashing in the air with Chelsea's Spanish defender Marcos Alonso during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in London on February 4, 2017. / AFP / Ian KINGTON / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE. No use with unauthorized audio, video, data, fixture lists, club/league logos or 'live' services. Online in-match use limited to 75 images, no video emulation. No use in betting, games or single club/league/player publications. / (Photo credit should read IAN KINGTON/AFP/Getty Images)IAN KINGTON/Getty Images

Hector Bellerin Injury: Arsenal Right-Back Injures Head vs. Chelsea

Chris LakerFeb 4, 2017

Arsenal right-back Hector Bellerin's immediate availability for selection is uncertain after he was substituted with a nasty-looking head injury in Saturday's 3-1 defeat to Chelsea.

The 21-year-old collided with Blues full-back Marcos Alonso as he controversially opened the scoring for the hosts, and Bellerin was consequently withdrawn from proceedings, as per Arsenal's official Twitter account:

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Alonso led with an elbow, connecting with the right-back's jaw and forcing him into an awkward and uncontrolled landing. By the letter of the law, exhibiting such dangerous play is typically a red-card offence, but the goal stood, and Bellerin was left in a heap on the turf.

Chelsea's Spanish defender Marcos Alonso (L) rises above Arsenal's Spanish defender Hector Bellerin (C) to score the opening goal during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Arsenal at Stamford Bridge in London on February 4, 2017

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YouTuber Andy Castell defended Alonso's header by saying both players made the same attempt to play the ball and that Bellerin came off worse:

Bellerin's surging runs from right-back to link up with the Arsenal attack have seen him become a leading figure in manager Arsene Wenger's side over the past couple of seasons. His pace, positioning and ability to add width to the attack have been an integral part of the Gunners' displays this season.

Gabriel Paulista replaced the Spaniard at Stamford Bridge, slotting in as a makeshift right-back. He'll likely do the same in the coming weeks if Bellerin doesn't make a swift recovery.

The Gunners have important Premier League fixtures against Hull City and Liverpool on the horizon, plus the Champions League round-of-16 tie against Bayern Munich.