Arsenal new boy Carl Jenkinson hopes to become like former captain Tony Adams, after making his dream move to the club he supported as a kid a few days ago.
The Harlow-born Finland Under-19 international, who qualifies for duel nationality through his mother, became our first summer signing following a reported £1million move from Charlton.
He might not have been the big money signing we were all hoping for, but he has every intention of writing his own name in the Arsenal history books.
Jenkinson told the official Arsenal site:
’My dad brought me up as an Arsenal fan and I have been going since I was young. I even went to a few games last season. It is all a bit surreal, but it is a brilliant feeling to be here and I am really excited by it.’
’I was always a big fan of Tony Adams and I am reading his book at the moment. He was always someone I looked at as a great player and a great leader. He is a player I can learn a lot from and I will be looking to follow in his footsteps.’
But can Jenkinson really become a player like the great Tony Adams?
Wenger’s track record of allowing young talent a taste of first-team action was another reason why Jenkinson jumped at the chance to join the Gunners.
He added:
’It is up to me to prove myself, but I know if I can, I will be given a chance. I owe Charlton a lot, with the way they have developed me as a player. I have still got a lot to learn, and now I am at the best place to do that. The plan now is for me to go away with the first team in pre-season and I am looking forward to it. It is up to me to prove myself, to stake my claim to be a first-team player and that I can be fighting to bring success next season.’
So, can Jenkinson really become as good as Adams? Well, there isn’t really much in his 8 appearances for Charlton Athletic to suggest anything in regards to how much of a good player he really is. However, there must be something to suggest that he could certainly become one.
As we all know, Wenger has the ability to scout out exceptional youngsters, and this time he’s brought in someone who has the club in their heart already.
There might not be much to suggest that he’ll be an excellent acquisition, but at least he’ll make that effort to prove himself.
He’s at the club he supports, so there is no doubt that he’ll put in 110% everytime he steps onto the pitch.
However, it still rings in everyone’s ears, as well as Wenger’s, that we need to sign someone experience to play alongside Thomas Vermaelen.
The Frenchman will have to splash the cash to keep the fans, as well as some players who are thinking of departing this summer, happy.
Will Jenkinson emulate Adams, well, I guess only time will tell.
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hard and dedication boy..
how the heck are we supposed to know if this kid can emulate the great tony adams?
Well he never really said that he can emulate Tony Adams but what he did say was ‘I will be looking to follow in his footsteps’, well you could take that meaning to be a number of things but the one he is probably trying to say is that he WANTS to play or be like Tony Adams.
Well he could be like Tony Adams after all Tony Adams had a great work ethic, was a leader and had passion in abundance. I think this kid has them too and we already know he’s a leader (captaining Finland U19s/21s and Charlton youth/reserve). If he is indeed an Arsenal fan then he will have a lot of passion and that will show through his work ethic.
Good Luck!
very poor write-up. thought he had something everybody don’t know about. kept asking same question at the end of quotes.
Good luck to him really but if this guy is so good why is he not on the pitch playing against Spain right now.