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I will admit that I made a few harsh predictions about the Arsenal prospects for the 2012-13 season.
I said that the club would struggle to match last season's third place finish in the Premier League.
Furthermore, I added that with the loss of Robin Van Persie, the club would struggle to score goals and end up with less than 40 for the season.
That Olivier Giroud, Lukas Podolski and Santi Cazorla were all good signings, but nothing to cheer about.
And that we would be doomed by November.
Humble pie
More so, I added that Carl Jenkinson was not fit to be an Arsenal player, ever since he arrived at the club.
Even worse, to replace the excellent Bacary Sagna.
How wrong I have been proved.
If there is a case of humble pie, it has to be on Jenkinson, the Finnish/English fullback, who doesn't really cut the look of a footballer at first glance.
He has made me look real bad.
Engine
What Jenkinson possesses is a powerful engine and a dash of speed about him.
He has deceptive pace and is a very good defender of one on one situations. He rarely gets beaten either for pace or positionally.
At first, he made stupid passes across goal and always looked jittery, but he has developed well, I guess with the guidance of Steve Bould.
His crossing has also improved, as well as his awareness around the ball.
He has been one of our better players this season, and added to the fact that partners have been changing on his side of the pitch (So far Gervinho, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade Chamberlain have been used on that side of the pitch) It shows just how well he is playing.
Arsenal fan
What I like about Jenkinson most though, is that he is never afraid to try out things and is an Arsenal fan by heart.
He is never afraid to take risks and to make mistakes.. He understands that he is learning and to learn, you must make mistakes and commit errors, but learn from them.
Last season at Old Trafford, Jenkinson was slaughtered by Ashley Young and sent off in that infamous 8-2 mauling.
I am sure though that if he faces Young this year, he will give him a good old fashioned hiding for last year's embarrasment.
That is Carl Jenkinson for you, the man that is never fazed.
One more year
Jenkinson is not yet the world's best player in a full-back position.. No way.
However, he is 19 and if he goes on the way he is, I can bet Sagna will not have a place in the side once he returns from injury, though im my opinion, he still should.
And that next season, Barcelona will be after his signature..
Cheers Carl.. Well done for proving a man wrong.
