Carl Jenkinson has left a touching message on a slab outside the Emirates Stadium for his recently passed grandfather.
The young right back completed his dream move from Charlton to Arsenal last summer and because of usual right back, Bacary Sagna’s injuries, Carl has found himself playing a lot of first team football for the London side.
All of Jenkinson’s family support Arsenal and he is very proud to play for the club, but his only regret is that his grandfather never got to watch him play in the red of Arsenal.
Outside the Emirates Stadium fans can create slabs with messages on which the club will then put outside their club shop, so the right back did the exact same for his Grandad.
He said: ‘I just wanted something for my grandad. It has always been a bit of a regret that he has not been able to come to my games since I’ve been at Arsenal.
‘It is well documented that my dad is a massive Arsenal fan but grandad was just the same, and I was very close to him.
‘It’s a regret that he has not been able to watch me, but I am sure he is looking down at how things are going for me and the fact I’m playing for Arsenal.
He then went on to talk about his love for the club.
‘I am a fan of this club and that will never change. I am just lucky enough to have been given the ability and the chance to play for my club.
‘I was going to watch Arsenal the same as the fans were and [now] just count myself very lucky to represent them as a fan who has become a player.
‘It doesn’t come around very often and I just feel privileged and honoured to be that person.’
Carl Jenkinson has made 15 appearances for Arsenal since joining from Charlton
Alex William Batt
