Resilient Gunner Jenkinson pleases Wenger

After 20 years in the Premier League, Arsene Wenger knows all about patience and resilience and as Carl Jenkinson prepares to make his injury comeback, the Gunners boss has singled him out for special praise.

The 24-year-old has not played since going under the knife for cruciate ligament damage sustained in West Ham’s 2-2 draw with Manchester City in January.

The one-cap England international is back with parent club Arsenal and ready to feature for the Under-23s against Southampton on Friday and Wenger has been nothing but impressed with Jenkinson’s mental fortitude.

(Photo by Matthew Lewis/Getty Images)

“It has been very tough for him because he had the knee and after, the shoulders. You think it’s endless at that age, you need to be patient,” the 66-year-old Frenchman explained.

“He has been patient, resilient and he has a fantastic mentality – he has worked very hard to come back. He had the support of everybody here at the club and I think he has done extremely well.

“He will be playing on Friday night and after that it’s down to getting a little bit more competition.

“He has been out for a very long time but he’s available again to compete now.”