Carl Jenkinson

Carl Daniel Jenkinson (born 8 February 1992) is an English professional footballer who plays as a right-back for Premier League club Arsenal. Jenkinson began his career with Charlton Athletic before joining Arsenal in 2011. He played the 2014–15 and 2015–16 seasons with West Ham United on loan, but his second spell was cut short by a mid-season cruciate ligament injury. He represented both the English and Finnish national teams at youth level before making his debut for the England national team in 2012.

Charlton Athletic

Jenkinson joined Conference South side Welling United on loan in January 2010, and on 10 October was named in a Charlton squad for the first time, their 3–4 defeat away to Shrewsbury Town in the first round of the League Cup. In November, he started a three-month loan with Conference Premier side Eastbourne Borough in November 2010. However, he was recalled by Charlton after a month.

He made his first appearance for Charlton Athletic in the Football League Trophy Southern Section semi-final clash with Brentford at Griffin Park in December 2010, playing the whole match in the right-back position. Brentford won the penalty shootout after a goalless draw. Having been an unused substitute for the first time on 9 October 2010 in a 2–2 draw at Plymouth Argyle, Jenkinson was given his Football League debut by Chris Powell on 15 February 2011, replacing Simon Francis after 52 minutes of a 1–2 League One defeat at Hartlepool United. He made seven more league appearances that season, all as a starter.

Arsenal

2011–12 season

Jenkinson signed for Arsenal in June 2011, for an undisclosed fee thought to be around £1 million.

On 16 August, Jenkinson made his competitive debut in the final qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League against Udinese, coming on as a second-half substitute for the injured Johan Djourou. He made his Premier League debut against Liverpool, four days later, starting at right-back. He kept his place in the team, playing in the second leg against Udinese and then at Old Trafford against Manchester United in the Premier League, although he was sent off later in the game for a foul on Javier Hernández. He also assisted Robin van Persie to score Arsenal's second in the game in an 8–2 loss against Manchester United, being sent off in the 77th minute. Jenkinson continued a string of appearances for Arsenal in Bacary Sagna's absence with an impressive performance against West Bromwich. Jenkinson suffered a stress fracture in his lower back which kept him out for 3 months. He made his return for the reserve team against Norwich City, playing 45 minutes. He continued his return to football coming on as a substitute against Tottenham Hotspur in the North London Derby.

2012–13 season

Jenkinson playing for Arsenal in 2012

Due to an injury to first choice right-back Sagna, Jenkinson started the first five matches of the 2012–13 season, and earned praise for his performance against reigning league champions Manchester City on 23 September 2012 in a 1–1 away draw.

On 19 December 2012, it was announced that Jenkinson, along with teammates Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Kieran Gibbs, Aaron Ramsey and Jack Wilshere, signed a new long term contract with Arsenal.

Having only started due to a warm-up injury to Laurent Koscielny, Jenkinson was sent off in Arsenal's 1–0 win at Sunderland on 9 February 2013, earning a second booking for a foul on Stéphane Sessègnon.

2013–14 season

Jenkinson featured in all three of Arsenal's opening games of the 2013–14 campaign as injuries to defenders Thomas Vermaelen and Koscielny forced Sagna to fill in at centre-back and Jenkinson to deputise at right-back. Despite Koscielny later returning, Jenkinson kept his place in the first-team after impressing against Fenerbahçe.

On 11 May 2014 Jenkinson scored his first senior team goal for Arsenal in their 2–0 victory over Norwich City on the last day of the 2013–14 season.

West Ham United loans

On 31 July 2014, Jenkinson joined fellow London-based top-flight club West Ham United for a season-long loan deal. He suffered a pre-season hamstring injury in August, in a game in the Schalke 04 Cup against Málaga, and did not make his debut for West Ham until 15 September, in a 2–2 away draw against Hull City. Jenkinson quickly established himself as the team's first-choice right-back and impressed pundits and fans with his consistent displays and good form.

On 14 July 2015, West Ham United confirmed that Jenkinson would return to the club for another season-long loan deal, after signing a new contract deal with Arsenal. On 15 August, he played in goal for the final moments of a 2–1 home defeat to Leicester City when Adrián had been sent off with no substitutions remaining. A week later, Jenkinson himself was sent off for a foul on Max Gradel in a 3–4 home defeat to Bournemouth. Jenkinson scored his first West Ham goal on 3 October 2015 in a 2–2 away draw against Sunderland. With West Ham losing 2–0, in first-half added-time, he scored from Victor Moses' cross to make the score 2–1. Jenkinson suffered a "significant" knee injury on 23 January 2016, after clashing with Sergio Agüero in a home 2–2 draw against Manchester City. He was replaced in the 13th minute by Sam Byram. On 7 March, Arsenal teammate Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain posted a social media image welcoming Jenkinson back to Arsenal for training and rehabilitation. Jenkinson did not play again that season.

2016–17 season

Arsène Wenger confirmed before the season opener against Liverpool that Jenkinson would be fit for first team action in November 2016. Jenkinson finally made his first appearance for Arsenal in nearly three years in the team's 2-0 win over Reading, playing at right-back. Jenkinson received plaudits for his performance and even had a chance early on to open the scoring.

Jenkinson has an English father and a Finland-Swedish mother, and represented both England and Finland at youth international level.

Jenkinson first played for Finland at Under-18 level. He was part of the Finland U-18 team that competed at the 2010 Valentin Granatkin Memorial tournament, making three appearances including captaining the team in the 1–0 defeat by Ukraine.

Jenkinson also made an appearance for the Finland U-21 national team on 3 June 2011 in a UEFA U-21 qualifying match that resulted in a 0–0 draw against Malta.

On 15 October 2012, Roy Hodgson revealed that Jenkinson had trained with the England national team prior to their World Cup Qualifier against Poland, following the withdrawal of fellow right back Kyle Walker. Hodgson also stated that Jenkinson had elected to make himself available for England rather than Finland in future, despite the increased competition for places. He made his senior debut for England on 14 November 2012 coming on as a 74th-minute substitute for Glen Johnson in a 2–4 friendly defeat against Sweden.

In October 2013, Jenkinson was first called up to the England U21 squad for European Championship qualifiers against the Under 21 sides of Lithuania and San Marino. He kept his place in the squad for the following qualifiers, one of which was against his former side Finland U21, a game in which he started.

Jenkinson was born in Harlow, Essex to an English father and a Finland-Swedish mother. Jenkinson is a boyhood Arsenal fan. He attended Davenant Foundation School.As a lifelong Arsenal fan, Carl has gained cult status with large sections of the club's fanbase.

Club

As of match played 6 December 2016

International

As of match played 14 November 2012

Arsenal

• FA Cup: 2013–14