Carl Jenkinson spent several years in the colours of Arsenal from Arsene Wenger through to Unai Emery.
The 32-year-old, who is now a free agent, was reminiscing about his time at Arsenal and some of the best players he played with.
When Jenkinson was at the Emirates, whilst Wenger delivered numerous FA Cup trophies, unfortunately, they were a team on the decline and one that couldn’t really battle for the big honours in the Premier League.
Now, Arsenal are worthy Premier League title challengers, with Mikel Arteta closer than ever before in dethroning the might of Manchester City from the top of the tree.
Unfortunately, emotions ran very high when Jenkinson was in north London, resulting in several players perhaps taking verbal hits they didn’t deserve.
One of them includes a player who the one-cap England international dubbed as ‘so underrated’ and the best striker he worked with.
No, it’s not someone like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who went through a strong period of scoring goals, but the marmite-like figure Olivier Giroud.
The 37-year-old is now at the end of his career repping Los Angeles FC in the MLS, but he spent his peak years in Arsenal colours.
Virgil van Dijk named Giroud as his toughest opponent, which proves the quality he had and Jenkinson was equally as complimentary towards the player, even if the fans didn’t appreciate him back then.
Jenkinson explained what was so good about the World Cup winner with France and why he enjoyed playing with him as a fullback, as he told talkSPORT (04/09/24 at 5:45 am).
Olivier Giroud at Arsenal
Best striker he has played with at Arsenal: “Best striker? I always loved Olivier Giroud,” said Jenkinson.
“He was so underrated. He has always scored goals everywhere he has gone. I think he often got a lot of stick at Arsenal when he always seemed to score goals.
“I always like Olivier and he was great to play with, especially for a fullback because you whip balls into the box and you know he was going to get on the end of them.”
Olivier Giroud at Arsenal at the wrong time
Giroud ended up leaving Arsenal for £18 million in 2018 and joining Chelsea, where he proceeded to win the Europa League, and then later on, the Serie A title with AC Milan.
There was always a top-quality player in there, Arsenal fans just never got to see it and he was at the club at the wrong time.
READ MORE: Gary Neville says he has changed his mind on the north London derby since working for Sky
Granit Xhaka was a marmite-like figure at Arsenal, yet when Arteta walked through the door and started transforming the club, then the fans’ opinion of the midfielder soon changed.
Now, Xhaka is a champion in Germany and is winning trophies away from the London club, just like Giroud did, so perhaps the players aren’t always the problem.
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