Football: Wenger signs Finnish Jenkinson

LONDON: Highly-rated Finnish under-21 defender Carl Jenkinson became Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger’s first signing of the close season when he joined from League One side Charlton for an undisclosed fee. The 19-year-old born in England to a Finnish mother mostly plays at fullback but can also fill in at centreback which he has done with Charlton since making his first team debut late last year. “I hope supporters will understand why I can’t turn down such an opportunity, but Charlton will always have a place in my heart,” said Jenkinson. He will be one of several new arrivals at Arsenal this summer as Wenger has vowed an overhaul of the squad after a sixth successive campaign without a trophy.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 10th, 2011.