There has been masses of debates about whether Arsenal should sell Carl Jenkinson this summer after the meteoric rise in form of our youngster Hector Bellerin. The young Spaniard was thrown in at the deep end when Matthieu Debuchy got injured early in the season (along with the rest of our defenders!) but he has performed more than admirably in defence as well as attack.
But now Debuchy has regained fitness and should be fit and ready for next season, which means we have two VERY competent right-backs, as well as Calum Chambers waiting in the wings. Now we also have the possibility of Carl Jenkinson returning to the squad as well, since Wenger today ruled out selling him in this transfer window. “The decision is now whether to bring him back now or give him one more year on loan,” Le Prof said at today’s press conference.
Admittedly Debuchy is getting on a bit and will pass the magic 30 mark in July, but he surely still has a couple of season’s left at the top, so it certainly makes sense to keep an improving Jenkinson on the books, but until then Wenger needs to decide whether to keep Bellerin or Jenkinson here as first backup. If he does then where will that leave Bellerin?
As for Chambers, he did show some early season promise, but he is a little gung-ho going forward, and always seemed to get booked when left to defend, so he has gradually disappeared from Wenger’s first team squads. If anything it would benefit Chambers going out on loan more than either of the other two youngsters, and I am pretty sure that would happen if Jenkinson cames back.
But that would still leave three classy players for one place in the team, so who would choose as the two to keep? Debuchy and Jenkinson? Debuchy and Bellerin? Or even Bellerin and Jenkinson……?