Carl Jenkinson is living the dream. Not just any old dream either, our dream. The one where we sign for the club we love, pull on the famous red and white, and play for the Arsenal.
Being a footballer at the top level would be enough for some people, but the former Charlton youngster is now playing for the team he supports and says that although there was some worry the deal would fall through, when it happened there was a moment between him and his father, Steve, that they had both longed for.
Speaking in the latest edition of the Arsenal Magazine, he explains.
Carl: Well you hear whispers, but I didn’t believe it all until I had actually put pen to paper at the training ground. Until it was actually done, I wouldn’t accept it. It was actually a big worry until that point, because I had made my mind up that Arsenal was the only club I wanted to join, so had it fallen through it would have been tough for me.
Steve: I’m a silly old man maybe, but I always had a dream that one day my son would sign for Arsenal, and we would come out of the manager’s office and hug and do a little dance outside the office. And that’s exactly what we did.
Carl: Well we had a hug – I think you were the only one who danced!
Carl: It was such an exciting time for us, and a couple of weeks after I signed my dad threw me a surprise party. I had no idea at all, not a clue what was going on, but my friends led me round the side of my house and there were all my family with Arsenal scarves, Arsenal flags – my dad put his CD of Arsenal songs on!
It was brilliant, seeing all my family like that so happy. I don’t tell this to all the lads though, I don’t know what they would think of me. When Robin saw those photos of my old bedroom he said “have you got a picture of me on your wall?” so I will probably take a lot of stick for this!”
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The step-up in quality has been considerable and being thrown into a team that was really struggling was not, perhaps, the ideal introduction to life at the club. He then picked up an injury around the same time as Bacary Sagna broke his leg, meaning his chance to understudy was gone, but Jenkinson is looking at the positives.
“Well the injury was a big setback for me because it took away an opportunity for me, as I could have had a run of games then,” he said. “But if somebody had said that I would have played 12 games by this time, I would have been happy with that.
“I think my performances have been up and down if I’m honest, but I believe I have improved significantly the more I have played. I’ve developed a lot this season and looking at it realistically, it was always going to take some time to adjust from League one to the Premier League.”
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You can read the full interview with Carl Jenkinson, in which he talks about joining the club, his first training session, how it has changed his life, and much more, in the April issue of the Official Arsenal Magazine. out now priced at £3.25. Visit here or call 0845 301 7626 (+44 845 301 7626) to subscribe.
Nice to meet Steve & Mark, whoever they are.
Clarified, and Mark (his brother) has been deleted. From the article. Not life.
Deleted. Not from life. Funny old arseblog 🙂
I want in on AFC…but I’m in africa!I wanna play!!help the team out..
I like Jenkinsons passion for Arsenal. It’s like if one of us fans got the chance to play for the gunners.
I reckon by the time im 78, sitting in my house, wondering where my days have gone, ill go to my bedroom, put on the arsenal shirt and say to myself
“yeh…i could still start for them at least”
I dare to dream.
(all of this provided i haven’t died of a heart attack due to a roller coaster season)
I still think he will one day he will become a top top player for us. His fighting spirit and work rate is brilliant. And its all for the team he’s always loved, which adds to his desire to do well. Cant fault the lad
“have you got a picture of me on your wall?”
haha
Carl is the living the dream, my dream!
Don’t give up your dream, you could be The Arsenal manager one day.
Ahhh gee you think so? :’) If all else fails i might go for the job interveiw in shorts and they could give me Pat Rice’s old job!
Why not???? Rosie47 can’t read or right and got a manager job at the Spud.
Write* ..I should get a job as a manager too grrrr.
I like him. 🙂
I really love his work rate. You can tell a mile off that he is the sort of player who will die for the shirt. I also remember going to the West Brom game and I was amazed with the quality of his crossing. He was putting them in like an experienced pro!
Hope to see a lot more of him over the next few years.
I am loving this. Wiltshire, Frimpong, Mert, Szcz, Jenks – isn’t it great when your players are also fans?
I remember Denilson strolling back in midfield while the opposition players streamed past him in numbers. He didn’t care and he never gave it 100%. Why should he? He was going to get paid regardless of whether he exhausted himself or not.
Kid’s like Jenks get me a very nice warm feel for the future of the Arsenal – they are in it for MORE than the money.
I can’t believe you mean that about the Arsenal leg-end ‘I am a winner’ Denilson.
Who is this wiltshere guy?
LOL. You pedant!
You forgot Robin???? He was an Arsenal fan too :).
I was going to say Bergkamp too, but I changed my mind.
*is
Once a Gooner, always a Gooner. 😀
True it should be IS*.
He has a brilliant attitude, work rate and crosses the ball brilliantly. Some work on his defensive positioning and I think we’ll have a really good player on our hands.
He is fast. Very fast. To look at him, I think we have been conditioned to stereotype him, but he has pace to burn. If he can stay fit, he can probably be even fast through his mid-twenties.
I think he can be a real player. Competition for places is never a bad thing.
Unless its a competition between Ivor Stepanovs and Sebastian squillachi. In those circumstances I would say its can be a bad thing. 🙂
Jenko, as I like to call him, was warming up in front of me Theo scored the fourth goal against Spurs. Jenko went mad with joy – fist pumping, jumping in the air, screaming. Everything apart from the sczs down-on-all fours celebration. It was great to see.
I heard that When Jenkinson was warming up vs Villa the crowd started the “if you hate Tottenham Hotspur clap your hands” chant. Carl clapped
I gotta say, I was one of those guys who watching his first batch of games was all like “This guy doesn’t have it”, but knowing that he actually supports the team he plays for gives me confidence he can gain a level and firmly earn a place in the team. It’s not all about skill – the best players simply love what they do and who they do it for.
Unless they’re Balotelli. He’s probably using his football money to fund a sex theme park in the middle of the sea or some shit.
He is a 19 year old stepping up from league one and after a batch of games u decided “he doesn’t have it”? These are the type of idiots who think players like Koscielny, walcott, ramsey, edu, doesn’t have it. You clearly do not play football and know nothing about the game. Leave your judgement to yourself, you don’t have it!
But at least I can read.
Goon.
cmon mate the sentiment was postive , no need start something
Will there be rides at this theme park?
Just the one ride. It’s called The Gravy Train, it’ll start off great fun, then crash & burn, buried under a big pile of arab cash, egos, and chinless mercenary cunts. . . . .
Fair comments, he did look a bit lost at sea at times.
actually, he does have some skill..that crossing of his is top top drawer.
Well, he’s come to the right place.
If you’re a young right-back looking to improve your game, there can’t be many people on the planet better to learn from than Sagna.
He’s already at a level where having Bac unavailable is an inconvenience rather than a disaster in my opinion.
Agreed, and having Santos and Gibbs gives a lot of confidence on the other side.
Delighted for him, delighted for us to have such players at the club.
Sorry to change the subject on this heart warming story. But, The King scored two brilliant goals last night. Bring him Back next Jan :).
Here is the link.
http://football-talk.co.uk/61329/video-thierry-henry-scores-superb-brace-in-4-1-win-over-rapids/?
Tell you what would be a lovely story.
Like the Nunez movie goal signing and playing for real madrid …….. Carl signing for Arsenal and instead us kicking madrids arse in the CL final.
I’m 22…and I’m a versatile player..I still hope to play for arsenal
If that’s you Bale, sod off we don’t want you 🙂
Poor guy, gets an interview with the mag and who should be on the cover but the man he will always play second fiddle to!
Speaking ofJenks, this is hilarous http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/special-report-carl-jenkinson-s-haircut.
I think his first contribution after injury to clatter parker off the ball in the 5-2 victory was enough to soften a spot in my heart for him as an arsenal player hopefully it isnt the same spot that softened for eboue.
Carl Jenkinson’s dad: putting the fucking lotion in the basket since 1961