As Carl Jenkinson edges closer to full fitness, he reflects on his long-term injury and how he perhaps took football for granted before.

Jenko damaged his knee ligaments during his second season on loan at West Ham. He was ruled out for the rest of the season and returned to Arsenal. He’s now back in training and eyeing a return in one of the later rounds of the EFL Cup. However, at the moment, he’s just happy to be back on the training ground.

“It is a humbling experience being injured for such a long period of time,” the 24-year-old told Arsenal Player.

“I guess sometimes in your career when you haven’t had injuries for a while, you start to take for granted just being able to go out and play football and enjoy doing that.

“Matchdays I miss a lot. I have missed them a lot because it’s a sort of buzz and excitement that you can’t replicate in anything else in life really.

“The build-up to a game, the pre-match and just the general vibe in the changing room as you’re building up to a game, that’s something that you can’t replicate in everyday life in anything else.”

Jenko is one of those characters that’s impossible not to like. His positivity and love of the club is almost infectious and it’s great to have him returning to fitness. Although he may not get much game time, which may lead him to eventually leave, right now, I’m glad he’s with us.

As fantastic as it is having world class international players, having genuine Gooners in the squad can also be beneficial.