In his earlier team news update, Arsene Wenger revealed that Carl Jenkinson will play for the Arsenal U23s, when they face Southamton tomorrow night.
The right-back has been sidelined since earlier this year with a cruciate knee ligament injury, sustained while playing for West Ham during his loan spell there.
That was cut short and he returned to Arsenal for treatment and rehab, and according to the Arsenal manager he’s ready to get compete for a place in the squad.
“He will be playing on Friday night and after that it’s down to getting a little bit more competition,” he said. “He has been out for a very long time but he’s available again to compete now.
“It has been very tough for him because he had the knee and after, the shoulders. You think it’s endless at that age, you need to be patient.
“He has been patient, resilient and he has a fantastic mentality – he has worked very hard to come back. He had the support of everybody here at the club and I think he has done extremely well.”
The last of Jenkinson’s 57 Arsenal appearances came against Norwich in May 2014, the day he scored his only goal for the club to date.
The upcoming EFL Cup game against Reading may well be his target for a first team return, fingers crossed for him.
Truth be told, he will be sold at last.
Maybe, but he actually has a chance to stake a claim for the back-up right back spot. Debuchy really doesn’t look interested and we don’t know if he is injured or otherwise. This became evident when Maitland-Niles started against Forest in the League Cup. He has only played Right Back for the U23s this season, so would be far from ready to play their for a long period if Bellerin gets a long term injury. Jenkinson is the obvious choice to deputize for him.
Don’t say that. He looked really good at West Ham in his first season. I so much want him to succeed at Arsenal because he’s a proper gooner with Arsenal wallpaper and everything.
And in his second season he really struggled before being injured. So he still has a lot to prove.
While I think Jenkinson falls a little short of Arsenal quality (more of a mid-table player), I’m very happy for him to be backup this season because you know he’s going to give 100% every time he plays, just like Gibbs. Hope to see him back in action against Reading.
While I love Jenko and think he’s a quality second choice (as it stands), as fullbacks go I’d rate Gibbs far higher up the quality ladder. I was genuinely surprised (but happy) Gibbs didn’t go in the summer, he could be first choice for most teams in the league. Can’t say that about Jenko as a RB at the moment.
Gibbs giving 100%? Never
This is seriously good news.
However the Ramsey/ Giroud situation is wiring the hole off me!
I’d take him over Debuchy as back up to Hector anyday. His kind of passion is good for the dressing room.
Yeah, Debuchy seems too distracted.
Be good to see him in the Carling Cup or whatever it’s called nowadays. If he can prove himself in those games he would be an excellent back up for Bellerin.
Still remember his crossing abilities and be great to some more of those during the season!
It’s actually the League Cup. Yes, really. Only they called it the “English Football League (EFL) Cup” because that hides the fact they couldn’t find a sponsor this year (and it sounds more snazzy).
Welcome back Corporal Jenks! Can’t wait to see you play. A true Gunner.
I love him. After Nick left he was my new Arsenal Boyfriend. He might need a bit more help from the team than Hector and we would have to adjust to not having Hector’s recovery speed. I always thought his crossing was good so games where The HFB starts might work well. Best of luck to him as additude wise he is miles past that MD.
I think Wenger has a two tack policy going in developing the player to back up Bellerin at Rback. He has Jenkinson back in the squad. Whilst Jenko is more one dimensional technically, you cannot fault his commitment to cause. He has Chambers on loan. Time will tell if Wenger will still be as keen developing Calum into a Cback with Mustafi, Gabriel and the excellent prospect of Holding (not to mention Bielik) already in the mix. Chambers was fantastic for Soton at Rback which is his natural position. Like Coquelin and Campbell(indeed Jenko), he has been sent to be… Read more »
He’s not a natural right back and Chambers has been on video saying as much. He struggles against pacy wingers.
Centerback is his preferred position.
I think it’s less to do with a lack of pace and more to do with a lack of agility for Chambers. Going forward he doesn’t look slow, as he can run where he wants to go – when defending he’s got to go with the attacker, which is where he gets twisted about.
That’s why I think he’s more suited to playing CB. Might be wrong, though.
Chambers first choice is CB, that is where he played for England in the Toulan tournament when they won
Happy he’s back.
Though to be honest, I am quite excited by Maitland Niles and I think he has all the qualities to be a long term back up to hector.
Great to have such talent coming through the academy, isn’t it?
In other news, a wild Debuchy was spotted in the woodlands of outer London, foraging for food and shelter.
Bellerin cannot be expected to play week and week out so Jenko would be a fantastic backup considering the competitions we are active in.
Will only be a positive for us having him healthy ready to play should we need him. Bellerin has done great of course, but Wenger seems to have lost faith in Debuchy (and Debuchy obviously doesn’t want to be here) so would far rather have Jenkinson that bleeds Arsenal in the squad as opposed to Debuchy.