The Rise of Corporal Jenkinson

Joleon Lescott, off screen to your right, will be using some of his massive City wages to get himself a new epidermis, having just been skinned by the Corporal.

No one could have predicted how quickly Carl Jenkinson would be folded into the Arsenal first XI, especially after the most inauspicious of starts to his career as a Gunner. Cast your mind back to last season, as a squad decimated by departures, injury, and suspension, saw us field a League Cup side for our Premier League visit to Old Trafford. Having completed his dream move from Charlton only months earlier, the young right back was thrust right into the thick of things against the champions on their own patch. Theo Walcott memorably [and harshly in my eyes] tore strips off of him that day after one mistake.

That particular memory is especially ironic given the massive leaps forward made in just one year by the player lovingly dubbed Corporal Jenkinson by the Tuesday Club, when you consider the tectonic rate at which Theo develops his own game. Coming full circle, the drawing above is from this season's visit to champions Manchester City. Jenks is still a ways from the finished article, but already last season he showed a very promising ability to cross the ball and a terrific engine. It’s early still in this campaign, but he looks to have improved his awareness and positioning, as well as his tenacity in the tackle.

And one thing never questioned is his heart. It is a well-known fact that he comes from a family of Gooners and as such he has perhaps taken on a bit of a cult status with the Arsenal support. Arseblogger unknowingly set up a hilarious scenario for the pre-Olymiakos press conference with this tweet. Of course that inspired a ridiculous chant from yours truly [see below]. And it wasn’t so long ago that a picture floated around showing the paver he had installed at Armoury Square with the message to his late grandfather “Grandad, hope you’re proud. Carl Jenkinson.” Tell you what Corporal, we’re ALL fucking proud.

Once upon a time we didn’t have a right back,

And now we don’t know which one to start.

If Sagna isn’t fit, the Corporal will tear you apart.
[if you're lazy like Barry click here for the tune]

Follow @11cannons