Arsenal: Carl Jenkinson Loan Proves Dead End Achieved

Arsenal has a wealth of defensive options, but Carl Jenkinson is slowly falling away with his rumored loan to Aston Villa. Dead end reached.

Arsenal was thrilled to welcome back Hector Bellerin against Stoke City. While the injury to Shkodran Mustafi was not exactly a welcome thing, but the return of Bellerin certainly was, as he played a major role in wrapping the match up and securing the three points for the Gunners.

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The return of Bellerin again shuts the door on the right back position. However, it must be noted that the man in question, Carl Jenkinson, had already lost the back-up role. Gabriel Paulista claimed it with both hands and made it his own.

As such, Jenko is not looking at a bright future in North London. In fact, it’s so dark that he may even be loaned out to Aston Villa, according to recent reports.

I don’t know how you can spin this in a positive fashion. He’s 24 years old now and he went from prospective Arsenal first-teamer, to West Ham, to Arsenal back up, to Aston Villa loanee. Not only is that a major downgrade, but it is hitting a new low.

Jenko fit in at West Ham and unless Wenger is just desperate to get rid of the young man, then this potential loan to Villa just solidifies that the Finnish-turned-Englishman has hit a dead end.

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There was a lot of optimism about his return, as he figured to be a solid back-up to Bellerin. Plus, as a lifetime Gooner himself, the passion was never in doubt.

It was still hard to expect all that much, as Bellerin had and still has a monopoly on the role.

Still though, we have to be a bit disappointed that Jenko is seeming going backwards. The upside was always limited, but Aston Villa? Again, unless this is a move made in desperation, I don’t see the upside here. If he needs first team experience, at least find him something in the Premier League or give him the role in the FA Cup or something like that.

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Am I wrong here? Does anyone else feel like this is the end of the line for Jenkinson? Assuming that the loan is real that is. I suppose it has to go through before we start jumping to conclusions. The very thought of it though makes me want to jump to all of the conclusions though.