Arsenal Defender Handed New Five-Year Contract

Arsenal have rewarded young defender Carl Jenkinson with a new five-year contract to cap a memorable weekend for the youngster.

The right-back has been in superb form this season for Arsenal this season, which has not gone unnoticed by England manager Roy Hodgson who revealed that he wanted him in the squad to face Sweden.

Jenkinson was not named in the original squad but was able to be called-up after he was handed international clearance, having previously represented Finland at Under-19 level.

The former Charlton defender could now be in line to win his first England cap in Wednesday's friendly against Sweden just 15 months after moving to the Emirates.

The Sun has revealed that Jenkinson is set to earn around £32,000-a-week under his new contract which seems just reward for the impressive performances he made while deputising for the injured Baracy Sagna.

Jenkinson cost Arsenal just £1million when he signed in the summer of 2011 and had a nightmare start when he was sent-off in the 8-2 defeat to Manchester United at Old Trafford.

However, the 20-year-old quickly recovered from that disappointment and did go on to make some 14 appearances for Arsenal in his debut season at the club.

He has made eight Premier League appearances this season and will certainly be pushing for vastly more experienced Sagna for a place in the Arsenal first team.

Jenkinson has already made seven Champions League appearances since he joined Arsenal, having previously only made eight appearances for Charlton in League One.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is clearly happy with the progress of the young defender and believes that his England call-up will do wonders for his self-belief.

"I am happy that his potential has been acknowledged by Roy Hodgson, so that is good news," Wenger told the official Arsenal website.

"Carl is a guy with massive potential and I believe the positive of that is it will improve his belief, and that is very important for him in my opinion."