When a young Carl Jenkinson first started making a name for himself at the Emirates back in 2011, many saw the quick-footed right-back as nothing more than a bang average English defender.
He may have been a willing runner who gave tons of effort for his place in the first team, but when it came down to actual technical ability, the former Charlton Athletic man simply didn’t compare with most of his Arsenal teammates.
It therefore didn’t come as much of a surprise when Arsene Wenger decided to loan out the 23-year-old to West Ham United for the entire 2014/15 campaign. As the season played out however, Jenkinson nevertheless found himself impressing the Upton Park faithful almost on a week-to-week basis – subsequently raising speculation over his future with the Gunners.
Having said that though, in a somewhat unforeseen turn of events towards the tail end of the season, Arsene Wenger has reportedly revealed his desire to keep his marauding right-back at the Emirates. The famed Arsenal boss will supposedly only allow the Englishman to go out on loan again for 2015/16, instead of advocating a permanent move.
So then, whilst many expected the Essex-born defender to cut his ties with his parent side at some point during the coming transfer window – do Arsenal still need their trusty no. 25 back in the fold next season, or can Arsene Wenger’s side ultimately afford to part ways with Carl Jenkinson this summer?
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For those among the Emirates faithful who had grown somewhat tired of the 23-year-old whilst he was playing for Arsenal, 2014/15 certainly offered a glimpse of Jenkinson’s full potential when given the responsibility of becoming a first team regular at West Ham.
Several Hammers fans may have also shared the same grumbles when their side first signed the full-back on loan last summer – but as he became one of Sam Allardyce’s most trusted servants throughout the course of the past season – such grievances have all but evaporated and disappeared for now.
Alongside Aaron Cresswell, another new name in the full-back department for West Ham last season – Carl Jenkinson proved himself to be a truly reliable asset, as well as someone who contributed effectively to both the attacking and defensive side of the game.
When it came to aiding his midfielders in the offensive positions, running the line tirelessly for the whole 90 minutes, and of course supplying Allardyce’s strikers with a series of frequent crosses from the flanks – the current Arsenal loanee certainly didn’t disappoint this term. Jenkinson even provided several assists for the likes of Enner Valencia and Andy Carroll when given free rein to get forward.
Much of West Ham’s early success this season was in-fact founded upon Big Sam’s full-backs being able to defend from the front and keep the pressure on their opponent’s back-line at all times. Carl Jenkinson therefore deserves great credit from the Hammers fans this season.
Such impressive form throughout 2014/15 has therefore not gone unnoticed by Arsene Wenger. Although such tactics could be aimed purely at driving up his transfer fee in the approaching summer months, the long-term Arsenal boss seems reluctant to wave a permanent good-bye to the former Charlton youngster with 2015/16 soon on its way.
As understandable as his stance is however, such a notion doesn’t really make a great deal of sense with all things considered.
Yes, the Hammers no. 18 has certainly progressed a great deal this season – but does that mean he has all of a sudden become Arsenal quality? The fair answer could well be, no. Even with his improved defensive game and unquestionable effort shown across last season, Jenkinson still isn’t the technically gifted right-back Arsenal require if they are going to become serious title challengers in the not too distant future.
Making a permanent switch to West Ham – where the English defender has settled in almost immediately and successfully made the right-back spot his own – would also make sense from the player’s own individual perspective. Wenger already has Hector Bellerin to provide the Emirates faithful with a promising young right-back for the foreseeable future, as well as being able to call on both Mathieu Debuchy and even Calum Chambers to fill the role if necessary.
Although such a selection hardly represents the ideal set of choices for Arsenal, adding Carl Jenkinson to that mix simply wouldn’t make a great deal of difference in the cold light of day.
For that reason alone, Arsenal can afford to let the 23-year-old permanently part ways with the Emirates this summer, paving the way for a solid permanent move to West Ham ahead of the 2015/16 campaign. The decision however, ultimately lies with Arsene Wenger…
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