One-hit wonder Jensen back at Arsenal

ARSENAL cult hero John Jensen returns to his former club today looking to upset the very fans who took him to their hearts two decades ago.

The ex-Denmark international came back to English football as assistant to Blackburn manager Steve Kean in January. He is sure to get a warm welcome from supporters at Emirates Stadium but the 45-year-old is hoping they are not cheering at the final whistle.

Jensen went down in Gunners’ folklore during his four-year spell from 1992 as he took 98 games to score his only goal, despite having been on target in the final of the 1992 European Championships immediately prior to his arrival.

That solitary strike prompted the printing of “I saw John Jensen score” T-shirts.

It is a story Jensen still enjoys retelling but with Rovers just a point from safety and eight matches left to secure their Barclays Premier League future, he knows his visit to London will not be a trip down memory lane.

“You are always going to enjoy it when you play your former club and I am really looking forward to seeing the Arsenal fans and some of the staff I know — I didn’t play with any of the players because it was so long ago,” he said.

“The fans were great. When you have scored in a European Championship final, the fans were looking for a midfielder who would score at least 10 goals in the season and then they bought me.

“You would expect the fans would be on your neck shouting and whistling but the respect I got from them was fantastic and even after two years of not scoring a goal they were still shouting my name.

“When I eventually scored a goal, even though we lost 3-1, the feeling was amazing when I walked off the pitch.

“I will always remember that day.”

For their part, Arsenal have been fortunate over the international break to see returning players like striker Robin van Persie shrug off minor knocks to be in contention to figure today.

Captain Cesc Fabregas, Alex Song and Walcott are also now match fit following injury lay-offs.

Wenger, though, accepts Arsenal can have no more off days if they are to overhaul Manchester United in the championship race.

He said: “Our target is to continue our unbeaten run and to win again because we haven’t beaten Sunderland or West Brom.

“Of course it’s important to have the good basis of an unbeaten run, but what will make the difference is the three points.”