Arsenal fan, Arsenal lover and from this season, an Arsenal player. At the age of 19, Carl Jenkinson is indeed living a dream as he confessed that he never expected to become a Gunner so quickly in his career.

Speaking to Arsenal Player, the youngster expressed his surprise at how quickly things went since he was on loan at Eastbourne Borough in the Conference as he explained that he was convinced that he was good enough to feature regularly for Charlton Athletic and how after accepting a loan move he returned back with the Addicks determined to impress.

Having done so, the 19-year old was surprisingly contacted by the Gunners as he revealed that he was speechless when his father told him about the interest and the possibility to feature with the Gunners in the English Premier League and the Champions League.

Admitting that he was starstruck by the Arsenal players during the first part of the season, Jenkinson is currently Arsene Wenger’s regular right-back after France’s Bacary Sagna was ruled out for months and has been in impressive form before the International break.

On his Arsenal move, the defender said:

This time last year I was on loan at Eastbourne Borough in the Conference, probably playing in the Sussex Senior Cup so to think I’m here now, playing for the Club I support and love is amazing.

A year is not a long time so to have come that far in a year is like, great for me, lovely to look back on it as well.

To be honest I was frustrated because I felt like I was capable of playing at Charlton but obviously being young, sometimes you have to go out and you have to prove yourself.

I understand that, I was sent on loan to Eastbourne and I’ve done well there.

In my last game I got MOTM and that was the game when they brought me back and the following Tuesday I made my professional debut.

[Arsenal a dream come true?] I still remember when my Dad first told me, I was like, I was speechless, I couldn’t believe what my Dad was telling me.

When you hear that Arsenal Football Club, like, want to sign you, it’s something special, because of the fact I’m a fan, I can’t really explain it to be honest, it’s fantastic.

I’m used to see the players at the Emirates, watching these guys play so to actually be alongside them, saying good morning, it was a strange.

I can’t lie to you, I was a bit like starstruck but soon got used to it and it’s just great to be playing alongside them every day, I’m living my dream really, which is quite special.

It all went quite quickly to be honest, it was great to get on [against Udinese] and won the game, it was a big result for us.

To make my Champions League debut, that’s the pinnacle for a footballer, it all went quite quickly but when I sat back and thought about it, it was like, “I played in the Champions League”, that’s special.

This time last year my goal was just to play for Charlton and now, to be here, playing for my dream Club is something completely different.

I just now want to establish myself here, show everyone what I can do, I have to believe in myself so as to make a mark at this Club for years to come.