'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Carl Jenkinson has joined West Ham United on loan from Arsenal, the Hammers have announced.
The 22-year-old right-back, who first headed to The Emirates as a teenager in 2011, has only made 37 appearances for Arsenal in three seasons at the club, serving mainly as the back-up to the now departed Bacary Sagna.
“West Ham United are delighted to announce the arrival of defender Carl Jenkinson on a season-long loan from Arsenal,” West Ham said on their official website.
Many had thought that he would finally get a crack at the first team this season with the departure of Sagna. However, Arsene Wenger had other plans.
Debuchy and Chambers transfers force move
His signings of Mathieu Debuchy and teenager Callum Chambers from Newcastle United and Southampton respectively, were clear signs of disapproval towards the English international.
The summer had seen Jenkinson extensively linked with a move away from Arsenal, with West Ham in particular keen to give the England international the opportunities he seeks.
It’s easy to forget Jenkinson is still only at the fledging end of his career at the age of 22. The ex-Charlton man still harbours the dream of getting into the England fold and welcomed this move across London, which should provide him with enough opportunities to make an impression.
Jenkinson: I hope I can prove my worth at West Ham
Speaking to West Ham's official website, Jenkinson said: "I'm clearly seen as a big part of things here and hopefully I can prove my worth here because it is an important year for me.
"I was flattered to have a lot of options but, deep down, if I was being honest with myself West Ham was always the place I wanted to go to.
"It's one of them where I wanted to do the right professional thing and consider all the options, but in the back of my mind it was always West Ham and I'm just so glad it's all worked out how I wanted it to in the end.
"It will be brilliant to play here. I've got a lot of friends who are West Ham fans and I know how good the supporters are here.
"I've played here a couple of times so I know exactly what it is all about, so it's going to be fantastic to be a part of that, to be honest. You get a great atmosphere here and the fans are great, so I just can't wait to get a West Ham shirt on and get on the pitch and play. This is an exciting time for me, it really is.
"There is an English group of lads here, which is always great for an English lad, and the players who have been brought in are top-drawer, so there is every reason to be optimistic about this season. That was a big reason I signed here."
