Members of Arsenal staff have harboured concerns about Hector Bellerin's plant-based diet by suggesting that it may not be giving him the best chance of returning to the level that he is capable of performing at, as understood by The Athletic.

According to the article, Bellerin turned to veganism originally for sporting reasons, before learning the ethical side of the diet afterwards. He originally turned vegan because he thought that it could reduce the inflammation in his system, which would, in turn, decrease the levels of pain he could feel and thus help him recover quicker.

However, turning to the plant-based diet may not have helped Bellerin as much as he would have hoped. He has missed nine games in all competitions this season due to picking up a hamstring injury and also missed the first five games of the Premier League season because of a cruciate ligament rupture carried over from the last campaign, according to Transfermarkt.

The rupture meant he missed 25 games in all competitions, including crucial runs in the Europa League and Premier League which ultimately meant that they failed to qualify for the Champions League this season. It is also worth noting that he suffered a calf strain which kept him out of six games midway through the campaign (via Transfermarkt).

The Spaniard is also down on stats from the previous league campaign in key areas for an attacking full-back. He is averaging fewer shots per game, key passes and crosses than in the same period last season, according to WhoScored.

Due to the 25-year old's injury record and reduction in key stats, the concerns shown by members of staff at the club are perhaps well-founded, and maybe a permanent move for Cedric or continuing the development of Ainsley Maitland-Niles into a right-back may not be a bad idea to provide cover.

Arsenal fans, do you think Bellerin is right to continue his plant-based diet? Comment below!