Where next for life-long fan Jenkinson?
When Arsenal signed Carl Jenkinson from Charlton in 2011 it looked like Arsene Wenger had brought in a player whom the fans could get behind. As an avid Arsenal fan from a Gooner-mad family, Jenkinson achieved many a supporter’s dream by playing for the club. However, it looks as though Jenkinson will be forced to wake up and smell the coffee this summer as the Gunners, among the favourites with Unibet – check out the latest odds here – http://unibetmobile.co.uk – to win the league next season, look to get rid.
It has been a tumultuous summer for the 22-year-old, who must have thought he would be given the chance to make the Arsenal right-back spot his own when Bacary Sagna left. The arrival of Mathieu Debuchy put an end to that but Wenger did say upon the Frenchman’s arrival that Jenkinson would compete with the former Newcastle man for a place in the starting XI.
Fast forward a few weeks and many a trusted Arsenal source is reporting that the club are close to signing another right-back, Calum Chambers, and Jenkinson is on his way out. A host of clubs are eager to sign Jenkinson, but the real question is why the change of heart from Wenger?
One theory put forward is that Wenger will not get rid and wants to turn Jenkinson into a centre-half to replace the outgoing Thomas Vermaelen. Certainly if Wenger asked him to do that, Jenkinson would jump at the chance. After all, this is a man who has shown nothing but commitment to the club.
Perhaps Jenkinson could do with a season on loan at another Premier League club. It would give him the chance to play regularly and develop a different side to his game. However, not many players go out on loan and then return to become Arsenal regulars, and a temporary switch could just be prolonging the inevitable.
It would be a shame to see a fellow Arsenal fan depart the Emirates but if the squad Wenger assembles this summer wins more silverware this season not many fans will call the move into question. After all, there is no room for sentimentality in the modern game.
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Shame there is no longer room for sentiment in the game although I have sometimes questioned the loyalty shown to others who are not as passionate as CJ25 about the club.
I love having players play for the shirt.
That would explain my love for IW8, TA6, DB10, TH14, etc etc.
Love my club and I will love you, even when you balls up.
As TA6 once said “Play for the name on the front of the shirt and they’ll remember the name on the back”
When a player truly loves our club, they put their life and soul into every yard of the pitch so it’s alway a shame when one of them has to made a casualty.
However, on this occasion, I think maybe a season at an opposing PL club will put CJ25 in a stronger position to become a long standing member of the Arsenal team.
He is after all only 22 so has a long career ahead of him. He is tall enough to be CB cover if he can just learn that part of the game and cool his heals a little and consider his forward runs.
I am delighted we have signed another Brit to the club as I firmly believe the core of any team should have the boys who grew up playing football in the street every night in the wind and rain and snow until their mothers called them in for tea.
CC21 may yet require a loan spell after his first season we have no idea about how he will fit in until the balls start flying fast and furious.
Only very few people can be TA6 and do what he did at such a young age, maybe CC21 is that man. Time will tell.
I think there is a very long term goal with these two lads (among others) and to let one of them go now would be a shame when all he really needs is the experience to step up a gear.
Or am I just being sentimental….!