Carl Jenkinson hopes to push Hector Bellerin for his starting role at Arsenal after making his return from injury in the EFL Cup.
For the first time in 898 days, Jenkinson pulled on the shirt of the club he has supported as a boy on Tuesday, playing the full 90 minutes in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Championship side Reading.
Jenkinson joined Arsene Wenger’s side in 2011 but last featured for the first team on the final day of the 2013/14 season.
The 24-year-old spent the past two seasons on loan at West Ham, picking up a serious knee injury in January that kept him on the sidelines until earlier this month, and will now back up Hector Bellerin.
The Spanish youngster is Arsenal’s undisputed first choice at right back but Jenkinson hopes to at least assert pressure on Bellerin by performing well in cup ties.
Jenkinson told reporters: “I hope I still have a role to play, we will see won’t we?
“I have just got to keep grafting away, stay fit and play as much as I can and when I get opportunities I have got to take them.
“I have got my foot in the door, played against Reading and hopefully I can play in the next round and get some opportunities here.
“Hector has been fantastic so far and he rightly deserves to be playing regularly, he has been brilliant so it is up to me when I get chances to play as well as I can and push him as well as I can.”
Jenkinson was given a generous welcome from the Emirates faithful in his first home game since April 2014 and was swiftly up to speed, impressing in Arsenal’s defense on the rare occasions that Reading threatened.
For boyhood fan Jenkinson it was a return worth waiting for.
Hector Bellerin remains ahead of Jenkinson in the pecking order but Wenger was thrilled to finally see the Englishman return to fitness.
“It’s fantastic to see him back. I don’t count him as a young player but he did well, he played 90 minutes and had no fitness problems at all.
“That means he’s prepared well physically. He’s played with the under-23s and we have had no problems with him physically at all,” said the Arsenal boss.