Fixtures should mean Stoke and West Ham miss out on Arsenal defender
Published:Carl Jenkinson‘s first-team opportunities have been limited for Arsenal in the last few months and so there would certainly be something for him to gain from going out on loan to another Premier League club.
Having been virtually an ever present in the early part of the season while Bacary Sagna was absent because of a broken leg, Jenkinson has struggled to retain his place since.
His appearance in the FA Cup third round 3-2 victory at Brighton was his first start since the Champions League defeat to Olympiakos in early December and younger players need competitive games to improve.
If Jenkinson wanted to remain in London, Fulham and West Ham are said to be interested, Stoke would provide the biggest focus on defensive organisation, while Wigan’s style most replicates Arsenal.
The big question for Arsene Wenger to answer is whether he has the squad depth to allow Jenkinson to depart on loan for four months.
Arsenal are obviously still alive in the Champions League, as well as the FA Cup, while with the battle for a top-four spot likely to go down to the wire, Arsene Wenger will need to utilise his squad.
Johan Djourou has already joined Hannover on loan and he would have been the most logical of the central defenders to shift across to full-back.
If it came to it, Wenger could move over Laurent Koscielny instead, while Francis Coquelin does have experience of the position, although he is more at home in midfield.
Reports suggest that Wenger has rejected any loan approaches, but if a short-term loan switch could be agreed, maybe for a month or six weeks, this could be beneficial for all parties.
Arsenal are 1/10 to finish in the top four this season and 33/1 to win the Champions League.
All odds and markets accurate as of publication’s time and date
