The Arsenal right-back looks set to start against Manchester United.
Former Arsenal defender Martin Keown has backed Carl Jenkinson to replace Hector Bellerin in the Gunners backline.
Bellerin has been ruled out for four weeks with an injury picked up in the North London derby and the question has now turned to how Arsene Wenger replaces him in the back four.
Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson during training
Keown, commenting in his Daily Mail column, believes that Wenger needs to show his confidence in the player this weekend:
“Carl Jenkinson deserves a great deal of support. When he went on loan to West Ham I thought he played better there than he did for Arsenal. Arsene Wenger will have seen that.
“He is a big fan of Carl and always gives people opportunities. You can’t say you believe in a player and then not play them. The biggest vote of confidence Wenger can give Jenkinson is to play him on Saturday.”
On top of that, he feels Jenkinson must believe in himself more to secure a regular place in the Arsenal team:
“Jenkinson needs to believe in himself when he goes out on the pitch. Sometimes, you can see from his body language that he is almost apologising for being out there.
Arsenal’s Carl Jenkinson in action with PFC Ludogorets Razgrad’s Wanderson
“He needs to go out there and boss it. He doesn’t have to look for approval, he just needs to go in there and do the job well. Under the surface there is a real talent there but he most of all needs to believe it.”
Jenkinson must heed this advice from an Arsenal legend. The right-back has come through a lot to deserve this opportunity. He impressed on loan at West Ham United before a knee injury ruled him out of action for nine months this year.
Arsenal’s Hector Bellerin in action with Tottenham’s Mousa Dembele
Now fit, and with Bellerin out of action, he will be hoping to get a chance this weekend.
Arsenal do have other options, with Rob Holding capable at right-back as well as Shkodran Mustafi – whilst French international Mathieu Debuchy is also still at the club.
But Jenkinson appears to be the favourite to start the fame and he will hope to cement his place in the Arsenal picture for the long-term.
Can Jenkinson fill Bellerin’s boots?
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