Arsenal defender Héctor Bellerín claims he’s never felt better since switching to a vegan diet but one caller to BBC Radio 5 Live doesn’t agree that it’s helped his performance on the pitch.

The 23-year-old giving up meat and animal-based products has coincided with a disappointing run of form for the Premier League club who lie 9th in the table after four games played – struggling through a visit to Cardiff after defeats to Chelsea and Manchester City.

One fan made a point of singling out Bellerín’s fad diet that the player has been discussing in the media, blaming it for a series of below-par appearances from the Spaniard.

However the supporter had Chris Sutton in hysterics with his suggestion on the radio phone-in show following their win in Wales at the weekend.

Although he apparently takes some stick at the club canteen, Bellerin said:

I learned a lot about becoming a vegan and asked other athletes like David Haye.

I spoke to other people involved in the vegan movement and decided to take the step last year.

Coming from a meat-eating background, the Arsenal star has apparently also been annoying his parents:

My parents didn’t really understand it when I first told them that I was becoming a vegan.

But after spending a long time with them this summer, they have ditched a bit of meat from their own diets.