Hector Bellerin has signed a new contract at Arsenal. His growing importance to the side makes it a huge boost, writes Nick Wright... If there was ever a game to epitomise the rise of Hector Bellerin, it was Arsenals clash with Pep Guardiolas Bayern Munich in October last year. The Spaniard was twisted inside-out by Douglas Costa in a punishing first half at the Emirates Stadium, but rather than crumbling in the face of relentless pressure, he held his nerve.Bellerin gradually got on top of Costa, and Arsenal began to turn the tide. Olivier Giroud bundled home the opening goal from a free kick, and then there was Bellerin, the youngest player on the pitch, pouncing on a loose pass from David Alaba and racing into Bayerns box to cross for Mesut Ozil to seal the win. The Emirates erupted. Bellerins redemption was complete. Sky Sports Black Friday sale Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price! The young right-back has made a habit of coming through tough moments. He was dropped during a loan spell at Watford in 2014 and struggled badly on his Arsenal debut against Borussia Dortmund a few months later, but every setback has only added to his determination. Every challenge has become another leap forward. Bellerin played every minute of Arsenals first 11 Premier League matches A year on from that night against Costa, Bellerin has commited his future to Arsenal with a new long-term contract expected to place him among their highest earners. The 21-year-old was the only outfield player to play every minute of their first 11 Premier League games of the season, and it is testament to his importance that the news of his recent ankle injury prompted such anxiety among supporters.It is rare for a young player to reach such lofty heights in such a short space of time, but Bellerin has always been different. In fact, to Andres Carrasco, the man who signed him for Barcelona when he eight years old and coached him right up until he was 15, it is no surprise at all.Its always difficult to know which players will make it, but if Id had to bet on one, it would have been him, Carrasco told Sky Sports. Mentally, he was very strong. That is a very important aspect for a young player. The psychological aspect is crucial. Hector was a boy who seemed 20 when he was 15. Bellerin has formed an effective partnership with Theo Walcott on Arsenals right Carrasco is not the only coach to have been struck by Bellerins maturity. He has been absolutely fantastic, said Arsene Wenger last month. His first game was a nightmare. The season before he was at Watford where he didnt play. His progress has been brilliant because he has absolutely top mental strength.Bellerin can often be seen geeing up team-mates and offering instructions on the pitch. He is an old head on young shoulders and Wenger trusts him implicitly. I think he loves being here and he has responsibilities already in the dressing room for such a young age, added the Frenchman. Its something remarkable. I think he is a real Arsenal player.His emergence has already seen the £16m Calum Chambers sent away on loan and France international Mathieu Debuchy frozen out altogether, and his status as the Premier Leagues outstanding right-back was confirmed when he was named in the PFA Team of the Year last season. Arsenals average positions in their 4-1 win over Hull City in September Its little wonder supporters were so nervous about facing Manchester United without him last weekend. Bellerin keeps getting better, and this season he has become increasingly important to how Arsenal play. With left-back Nacho Monreal providing defensive balance on one side, Bellerin essentially operates as an auxiliary winger on the other.Bellerins average position has been in the opposition half in 10 of his 11 appearances, according to Opta. His overlapping runs on the right flank have allowed Theo Walcott to rediscover his scoring touch in central areas, and it is also revealing that Bellerin has had 32 touches in the opposition box himself. Its more than any other Premier League defender. Touches by defenders in opposition box - Premier League 2016/17 Player Team Touches Hector Bellerin Arsenal 32 Marcos Alonso Chelsea 25 Ryan Shawcross Stoke City 23 Scott Dann Crystal Palace 21 Antonio Valencia Man Utd 20 It highlights the unique nature of his role. No other full-back plays with such attacking adventure because they cant match his electrifying pace. He showed his extraordinary recovery speed with his last-ditch tackle on Pedro in Arsenals win over Chelsea, and there was a similar intervention to deny Tottenhams Heung-Min Son. Bellerin can venture high up the pitch without exposing vulnerability at the other end. Bellerin tackles Chelseas Pedro during Arsenals 3-0 win at the Emirates Stadium He is also accomplished when defending with his back to goal. The statistics show a pattern of constant improvement in one-on-one situations over the last four seasons, and this year he looks more assured than ever having struck up a strong understanding with Shkodran Mustafi on the right-hand side of Arsenals defence. Hector Bellerins one-on-ones (league games only) Season Team Dribbled past per game 2013/14 Watford 1.3 2014/15 Arsenal 0.8 2015/16 Arsenal 0.6 2016/17 Arsenal 0.5 Bellerin is expected to be sidelined for four weeks, and his absence is sure to have a big impact on how Arsenal play. Carl Jenkinson is expected to continue deputising having come into the side against United, but he has only recently returned from a long-term injury, and he cant match his team-mates rare combination of speed, attacking threat and defensive awareness.Few players can. Bellerin has always been different. He showed it with Carrasco in Barcelonas academy and he showed it that night at the Emirates Stadium against Douglas Costa. Wenger deserves credit for fast-tracking his career and the contract is a welcome boost. Bellerins importance to the side could become even clearer during his time on the sidelines.Upgrade to Sky Sports now and get 12 months half price. Hurry, offer ends December 4! Also See: Bellerin signs new Arsenal deal Wenger: Sanchez is remarkable Adidas Swift Run Nere . Schenn scored the game-winning goal and added two assists to lead the Philadelphia Flyers to a 4-1 win over the Calgary Flames at the Scotiabank Saddledome on Tuesday. Donne NMD R1 Adidas Rosa/Bianche . 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PHOENIX -- Maybe Jake Lamb deserved more write-in votes as one of five NL players in the Final Vote lineup for the All-Star Game.The Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman finished fourth in the voting, but won the battle Saturday against an actual All-Star, Los Angeles Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen.Lamb later delivered another key hit that helped the Diamondbacks beat the Dodgers 2-1 in 12 innings Saturday night.Brandon Drurys single drove in Lamb with the winning run in the bottom of the 12th after Lamb had sent the game into extra innings with a tying double off Jansen in the ninth. Lamb then opened the 12th with a triple into the right field corner.Im not afraid to fail, Lamb said after a three-hit night. He (Jansen) has dominated me. I dont think Ive ever gotten a hit off him.Lamb got the triple off Dodgers reliever and losing pitcher Casey Fien (1-1).I hit it hard enough to get through. I just put it in the right spot. So that was nice, he said.After two intentional walks to load the bases, Drury laced a single through the drawn-in infield off Fien, ending the Diamondbacks five-game losing streak. It was Drurys first career game-ending hit.I was just trying to stay inside the ball, Drury said. I have really learned to focus just on the ball and not on the situation.The Dodgers had the bases loaded with two outs in the top of the 12th, but Randall Delgado (2-1) retired Yasiel Puig on a groundout to end the threat. The Dodgers stranded 15 runners on base.They still were in position to win with Jansen on the mound and a 1-0 lead with two outs in the ninth. But Lamb lined a two-strike double to drive in Michael Bourn, who had singled and stole second base.Of Lambs 63 runs batted in this season, 11 have come in the ninth inning.Dodgers starter Brandon McCarthy struck out eight in six scoreless innings. McCarthy, a former Diamondbacks pitcher making his third start since returning from major elbow surgery that cost him most of last season, held Arizona to three hits in his longest outing of 2016.Diamondbacks starter Archie Bradley allowed a run on six hits, walked three and struck out three.The Dodgers bullpen, which entered Saturday with the lowest ERA in the majors, got scoreless innings from Adam Liberatore and Joe Blanton before Jansen blew his fourth save chance of the season. Jansen had not allowed a run in 14 previous games.Diamondbacks relievers held the Dodgers scoreless for six innnings.dddddddddddd Well before that, Justin Turner drove in the games first run with a soft single in the third inning, driving in Chase Utley, whod led off with a double.The Dodgers lost a chance to add to the lead in the seventh when Howie Kendrick, who was 3 for 3 up to that point, struck out against reliever Jake Barrett with the bases loaded.The offense, we had opportunities. We just couldnt get that big hit tonight but we had been doing a lot of good things offensively going into the break and (Friday) night, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. It was just one of those nights where those guys made pitches and hung in there.Jake Lamb is a great ballplayer and he got a big hit against one of the best closers, Roberts added. We expect Kenley to be perfect. Its not going to happen.INJURED UMPIREHome plate umpire Dale Scott left the game in the bottom of the first inning after taking a foul ball to his chin. The umpiring crew went to three men, with Lance Barrett moving behind the plate from first base after about a 12-minute delay.TRAINERS ROOMDodgers: LHPs Clayton Kershaw and Alex Wood threw to live hitters for the first time in their rehabilitations from injuries Saturday at Dodger Stadium, Kershaw throwing 60 pitches. Wood threw 30 to 40 pitches, Roberts said. If Kershaw feels fine on Sunday he could pitch as soon as next week at Washington or St. Louis. Kershaw (back) has been on the DL since July 1 and Wood (elbow) on the 60-day DL since May 31. ... OF Trayce Thompson was placed on the 15-day disabled list with lower back irritation and OF-IF Zach Walters was called up from Triple-A Oklahoma City. ... OF Joc Pederson (sprained AC joint) got a hit and walked twice in four at-bats Friday night in a rehab game for Oklahoma City. Hes been on the disabled list since June 29.Diamondbacks: RHP Zack Greinke is still dealing with oblique tightness and may not be ready to make a start this month. ... C-OF Chris Herrmann (hamstring) had an MRI Saturday morning but appeared as a pinch-hitter in the 10th inning.UP NEXTDodgers: RHP Kenta Maeda (7-6) is the scheduled starter against the Diamondbacks. Maeda has a win in two starts against Arizona this season.Diamondbacks: Sunday starter Robbie Ray (4-8) is 2-2 with a 2.40 ERA in five career starts against the Dodgers. 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