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.
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.
Arsenal 2 Reading 0: Player Analysis
“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 defence on the rare occasions that Reading threatened.
For boyhood fan Jenkinson it was a return worth waiting for.
“It was great to be back out there. Arsenal is my club.
“I went out on loan for a couple of years but always in my mind I thought I wanted to perform so I can come back here, I wanted to be good enough and I still want to be good enough to play here…
“Arsenal is my club and it is an honour every time I pull on the shirt.”
