Arsenal: Carl Jenkinson Won't Actually Challenge Hector Bellerin
Arsenal supporters are rightfully happy to welcome back fan favorite Carl Jenkinson, but realistically, he isn’t going to challenge Hector Bellerin.
Arsenal’s injury situation has been kept pretty much in control through three games of the season. Sure, Aaron Ramsey and Alex Iwobi sustained fresh injuries, but they will be back this weekend and when Gabriel returns, that will leave the only long-term injuries as Danny Welbeck and Per Mertesacker.
And, of course, fan favorite Carl Jenkinson. The English-turned-FInnish-turned-back-English fullback is nearing a return to training and that gives us grounds to be excited. Jenko has always loved Arsenal and that is the main reason why it was so easy for him to endear himself to Gooners.
The thing of it is though, he is only going to be used in secondary competitions. We cannot realistically think that Jenkinson will challenge Hector Bellerin when not even the French international starting full back (at the time) Mathieu Debuchy could.
I think the world of Jenkinson and am excited to see him back on the pitch, but his welcome back is nothing more than a matter of sentimentality and security. I don’t expect him to make a huge impact and it’s not like Arsenal’s defense needs anything right now. With the addition of Mustafi, the back four of Bellerin-Koscielny-Mustafi-Monreal is as sturdy as they come.
Jenkinson is 24 now and that’s not in his favor either, as Bellerin is 21 and already a world class right back.
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Jenko had a road paved in gold to take the starting right back spot that he had coveted when Bacary Sagna departed, but in one of the first displays of Wenger’s ruthlessness, Jenkinson was denied and Mathieu Debuchy came in and took his place. The rest is history. Bellerin bumped off Debuchy and Jenko went on loan to West Ham.
While he had a successful initial loan with the Hammers, his second was rough around the edges and cut short in January by the injury that keeps him out to this day.
Having another right back is going to be a nice, welcome opportunity to keep Bellerin fresh for the major competitions, but that’s all it really is. If Kieran Gibbs can’t even put pressure on Monreal, then there isn’t a chance that Jenko will make much of an impact on the first-choice XI.
Still though, let’s be happy for a returning Gunner. We know how much he loves the club and the feeling is mutual. Hopefully he can prove me wrong and put the pressure on Bellerin. If nothing else, at least we do get to see him rocking out in secondary competitions.
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