By Connor Armstrong
Just over five years have passed since Carl Jenkinson made his Arsenal debut, but the memories of it remain vivid for this lifelong fan of the club.
With a raft of other youngsters on the cusp of first-team involvement, the England international says there is one who has caught his eye above the rest.
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“It seems like there’s so many [academy players involved] when we play in the EFL Cup,” Jenkinson told Arsenal Player. “There’s always someone new getting an opportunity.
“I think Jeff [Reine-Adelaide] has been the stand-out when he’s played and in training as well.
"I think he’s got a lot of talent and a lot of ability and he’s got a great mentality for someone his age. He’s probably one who has stood out most and he’s done really well. The more opportunities he gets, people will see how good he really is.
“I think he’s realistic and probably looks at the team and sees the players who are ahead of him right now and they’re top, top players,” he added.
“Jeff, at his age, will probably just be looking to learn from them. He’ll be thinking, ‘How can I get to their level, how can I get to the point where I’m really knocking that door and looking to get into that team?’
“I think Jeff’s got the right mentality for that, he’s very professional and determined, and my advice for him would just be to be patient. It’s easier said than done but he’s got all the attributes. If he just bides his time and works hard then he’ll get his opportunity for sure.”
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