Gunners Contemplate What To Do With Carl Jenkinson – Why The Arsenal Full-Back Should Be Loaned Not Sold

Arsenal have all but confirmed the signing of Mathieu Debuchy from Newcastle United. His signing is to replace Bacary Sagna who walked out of the club as a free agent at the end of last season and was picked up by Manchester City. It is a very like-for-like switch, but there are other positives to the Gunners signing Debuchy.

If Arsene Wenger had signed someone like Serge Aurier to replace Sagna, the future of Carl Jenkinson and even Hector Bellerin would have been in question. However, Debuchy is almost 29-years-old, and therefore he will act as a stop-gap in the development of Jenkinson and Bellerin. In short, he won’t be around for the long-term like Aurier would. In order to aid Jenkinson’s development it is possible that Wenger will send the 22-year-old on loan. The Daily Mail, however, are reporting that Arsenal could offload Jenkinson to Newcastle to help the Debuchy deal.

I think Jenkinson should be loaned rather than sold, as he has a lot potential that we just haven’t seen yet because Sagna has been so consistent. Ultimately, he just hasn’t been given the chance to maintain a solid run of form.

When Sagna broke his leg a couple of seasons back, Jenkinson stepped in and really impressed. There was one point where he was seriously considered to be the next England right-back due to his performances. He certainly has all the qualities, but his concentration and decision-making sometimes let him down.

Jenkinson is very athletic which means that more often than not he is able to be in the right place at the right time; in both attack and defence. A strong, powerful and clever defender, Arsenal should not let him leave the club permanently.