Arsenal: Carl Jenkinson Injury Creates Right Back Problem

Arsenal’s right back conundrum has been exasperated by the long term injury of Carl Jenkinson, leaving uncertainty regarding the deputy for Hector Bellerin.

The title of the article states a ‘right back problem’. This does not however mean there is any problem with our sensational full back Hector Bellerin who I see as Arsenal’s and one of the world’s best full backs both now and for many years to come.

The ‘problem’ lies with who would fill the void should Hector need a rest, suffer an injury or go through a spell of poor form. Competition for places is integral to a team’s success (this is shown by Giroud’s dry spells…imagine we had a ready-made replacement to step in when the Frenchman suffered his annual goal drought!) and this is why I am bothering with an article regarding the situation of the deputy right back spot.

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In a perfect world, Jenkinson would have had a solid second season at West Ham and have returned hungry and prepared to challenge young Hector for a place in the first 11 (Ian Wright believes Carl would be good enough to challenge Hector so who am I to argue) This would allow the sale of Debuchy and the possibility of a loan move for Calum Chambers. However, Jenkinson is currently set to be out injured till October at least and this creates a sticky situation for Arsenal and Wenger at present.

As a back-up right back is required, Wenger will have to keep either Chambers or Debuchy at the club (something I am against completely). Mathieu Debuchy has had a torrid, injury ridden time at Arsenal and (through no fault of his own) was usurped by the brilliant Bellerin two seasons ago who has not looked back since.

This caused Debuchy’s sporadic performance levels to drop significantly and after showing poor attitude at the fact that Wenger refused to sanction his sale to Man Utd, surely he should be on his way out (I’m surprised this hasn’t happened yet actually)

This proposed sale would see Calum Chambers take up the mantel of reserve right back. While Calum does provide some useful depth in the centre back and defensive midfield areas, as co-editor Andrew here at Pain in the Arsenal has often stated: Arsenal does not require depth, they require quality additions.

At the moment Chambers is a Blind type figure (someone who can fill in when required but cannot be seen as a viable starter week-in week-out for a title chasing side) At the age of 21, Calum is in need of regular first team football and a loan to a mid-table side would offer him such opportunities. Keeping hold of him to fill in at right back in League cup games should not be a priority for Arsenal and so it is integral the young Englishman finds some regular game time be it at Arsenal or somewhere else next season.

If Debuchy is sold and Chambers is loaned out, it leaves Arsenal with Coquelin and Pleguezuelo as deputy right backs before Jenkinson returns to full fitness. While such options may survive for a half or even a full game at the top level, it gives me goosebumps to think of a situation where one of the above is put up against a top Premier league winger in a crucial early season match should Hector be injured…

Next: The Good, The Bad, The Ugly Of Asano Transfer

This shows that Jenkinson’s injury has complicated the situation at right back for Arsenal and I do not envy Wenger’s role in keeping Debuchy, Chambers and the club all happy…What do you think Gooners? How should this problem be dealt with?

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