Source: Team_Talk
Jenkinson: Youngsters can step up
Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson is confident the young players in the Gunners' squad can "step up" to get them through a difficult patch.[LNB] Jenkinson was handed a Premier League debut in Saturday's 2-0 defeat by Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium, which also saw 18-year-old centre-back Ignasi Miquel make his first top-flight appearance after Laurent Koscielny hobbled off with a back injury.[LNB]Given the current selection crisis facing Wenger - who will now be without midfielder Emmanuel Frimpong for the trip to Manchester United next weekend after the 19-year-old was sent off for two yellow cards - Jenkinson is confident he and his fellow youngsters can compete.[LNB]"Our squad is stretched - that is quite obvious - but the people who have come in have done well, so I don't think there can be too many complaints," Jenkinson, 19, told radio reporters.[LNB]"There are a lot of young players in the squad - me included. But we are there for a reason - people believe in us - and all of us young ones have to step up to the mark to take responsibility, and that is what we will do."[LNB]Jenkinson, who featured in the midweek Champions League play-off first-leg win over Udinese, added: "Everyone pulls together. There is a good group we have got here and everyone is united.[LNB]"We are going to have ups and downs, but that is part of football.[LNB]"We did well against Udinese and then things did not go our way with Liverpool.[LNB]"But we will bounce back. We have got a lot of quality and will come back from this, without a doubt."[LNB]Jenkinson was signed from Charlton in a £1million deal, and it has certainly been a meteoric rise for the defender, who had a spell on loan with non-league Eastbourne and Welling last season.[LNB]"If you look back a year ago, I would not have thought about this in my wildest dreams," said Jenkinson, whose family are all staunch Arsenal fans.[LNB]"Personally it is great to be involved and to be getting the chances to play.[LNB]"It is mixed emotions because of the result, but it is great having played my first Premier League game now and hopefully I can build on it."[LNB]Arsenal were certainly out of luck on Saturday, when Wenger was already without several first-team players because of suspension and injury.[LNB]The Gunners were reduced to 10 men for the final 20 minutes after Frimpong's rash challenge on Lucas Leiva, and went behind to Aaron Ramsey's own goal before last-minute strike from substitute Luis Suarez clinched victory for the visitors.[LNB]"It is very difficult to take that defeat on the chin with the effort we have put in," Wenger told BBC Sport.[LNB]Despite being expected to sign for Manchester City, amid rumours the £22million move had stalled, Samir Nasri produced a composed display - and was unfortunate not to see his darting run end with a goal in the first half when a 25-yard strike drifted just wide.[LNB]It remains to be seen if the France midfielder will be involved in the trip to Italy next week, having been suspended for the first leg.[LNB]Should he play, then Nasri would not be eligible for City in Europe were he to move.[LNB]Wenger said: "For us now the biggest problem is to lift the team and prepare for Wednesday night. If Samir can be with us, it is even better."[LNB]Asked if the midfielder would play, Wenger responded: "Why not?"
