According to reports, Carl Jenkinson is set to be dropped against West Ham in favour of Gabriel.

The claims appear to have stemmed from comments made by Arsene Wenger ahead of Arsenal’s trip to the London Stadium. However, while the boss does say the right-back needs more confidence and that this will only come with time once he’s been ‘in and out’ of the side, he doesn’t actually say whether he’ll drop him or not.

“He has lost confidence,” Wenger said of the 24-year-old.

“The Jenkinson you see at the moment is the Jenkinson who can play but is not completely Jenkinson because he has no confidence. That will come back. He will be in and out and, suddenly, after one or two months, he will make the step and play. It is natural and very difficult. Today it is even more difficult because he gets quickly hammered by everybody on social media. I hope he doesn’t read all that and focuses on his game.”

Jenks has been dropped in the deep end recently.

After returning from nine months on the sidelines due to a knee injury he sustained while on loan at West Ham last season, he’s been thrown straight into the action. First choice right-back, Hector Bellerin, picked up an ankle injury against Spurs and is therefore out and Mathieu Debuchy, after only just returning himself, hurt his hamstring against Bournemouth last weekend.

It’s claimed that Gabriel, who is usually a pretty dodgy centreback at best, will step in.

I’m not sure what to make of that.