Arsenal youngsters must rise to challenge, says Jenkinson

Arsenal defender Carl Jenkinson insists he and his fellow Premier League rookies must shoulder the burden of responsibility following a disappointing start to the domestic campaign.

The 19-year-old, who joined the Gunners from Charlton in the summer, made his top-flight debut in the home defeat to Liverpool on Saturday with Ignasi Miquel, Emmanuel Frimpong and Henri Lansbury also involved.

The club's supporters have called on manager Arsene Wenger to add experience and quality to the squad in the wake of Cesc Fabregas' sale to Barcelona and the anticipated departure of Samir Nasri to Manchester City.

But Jenkinson believes the young players must rise to the challenge presented by injuries and suspensions to regular first-teamers.

He told arsenal.com: "There are a lot of young players in the squad, me included.

"But we are there for a reason - people believe in us - and all of us young ones have to step up to the mark and take responsibility, and that is what we will do.

"Our squad is stretched, that is quite obvious, but the people who have come in did well so I don't think there can be too many complaints.

"We are going to have ups and downs but that is part of football. We did well against Udinese and then things did not go our way with Liverpool. But we will bounce back.

"We have got a lot of quality and will come back from this, without a doubt."