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Arsenal Transfer News Sees Gunners Snag Carl Jenkinson, But Will Teen Phenom Really be "Next Tony Adams"? Arsenal have managed to make some big waves in the transfer window already this summer, grabbing players like Southampton star Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain earlier Friday, and Charlton defender Carl Jenkinson on Thursday. The Finnish international (who also has citizenship in England), was introduced on Friday, and his reaction to being signed was understandably excited, according to a report from Mirror Football. Per Jenkinson's introduction: "My dad brought me up as an Arsenal fan and I have been going since I was young. I even went to a few games last season. It is all a bit surreal, but it is a brilliant feeling to be here and I am really excited by it," Jenkinson told Arsenal Player. was always a big fan of Tony Adams and I am reading his book at the moment. He was always someone I looked at as a great player and a great leader. "He is a player I can learn a lot from and I will be looking to follow in his footsteps." Wenger's track record of allowing young talent a taste of first-team action was another reason Jenkinson did not hesitate to join Arsenal. "It is up to me to prove myself, but I know if I can, I will be given a chance," he said.
But, can Jenkinson really follow in Adams' footsteps and become one of the Premiership's top defenders, and help lead the Gunners to some desperately craved hardware, or has he bitten off more than he can chew at Emirates? Frankly, Jenkinson has the skills to be a stellar defenseman in the Premiership, and that kind of upside is just what Arsenal need at this point. Their defense was made of Swiss cheese last season, full of holes, and Jenkinson is big and rangy enough to do just that. He can play right back or in the center of the defense, and has already displayed the kind of skill they need to improve their standing defensively. But, at the same time, Jenkinson is very much a work in progress. He was just becoming a first team regular with the Addicks, and while the talent is there, Wenger needs hone him into the kind of defender his team needs. In the end, Jenkinson brings the kind of talent Wenger needs in his defense to improve the squad, and with the upside he brings to the table, his dream of emulating Tony Adams is very much a possibility, even if it's going to take a bit of time to accomplish. But, grabbing him shows Wenger is committed to improving his squad's defense, which was their only real flaw (other than Nicklas Bendtner, of course), and could help convince Samir Nasri to stick around.
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