Dundalk FC v Arsenal UEFA Europa League Mohamed Elneny Arsenal celebrates a goal during the UEFA Europa League match at the Aviva Stadium, Dublin PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxUKxCHN Copyright: xYannisxHalasx FIL-14889-0028
According to Football.london, Arsenal are keen to keep a hold of Mohamed Elneny amidst interest from Besiktas. Elneny, who spent the last season on loan at the Turkish club, is said to be wanted on a permanent deal by the club. However, Arsenal don’t want to sell him as they try to salvage their campaign.
While it might have been a huge surprise to see Elneny start for Arsenal, it is not without a reason. Mikel Arteta has very few viable options in midfield. Mesut Ozil hasn’t kicked a ball in ages. Matteo Guendouzi has been offloaded on loan. While Thomas Partey has arrived from Atletico Madrid, Lucas Torreira has gone the other way to join the La Liga side.
This leaves the club with a handful of names in central midfield such as Dani Ceballos, Granit Xhaka, Joe Willock, Emile Smith Rowe and Elneny himself, along with new signing Partey.
Now that’s quite a small contingent of midfielders for a club competing in so many competitions this season. Elneny is the only backup defensive midfielder that Arteta has at his disposal after Partey.
The 28-year-old Egyptian has featured in 19 of Arsenal’s games this season, which shows Mikel Arteta is open to the idea of keeping him in the squad and also provide him with a decent amount of game time.
In a season where games have come thick and fast, it was vital for Arsenal to have a player like Elneny, who slogged out quite some games in the absence of Xhaka, Ceballos and Partey.
Elneny has gone out there and grabbed his chances. He has formed a good partnership with Partey in midfield and he presses the opposition to suffocate them of space and passing options. His full powers were on display in the game against Manchester United where he kept chasing every ball and pressed with vigour.
Elneny has had a long journey at Arsenal from being a sporadic player to being sent out on loan to finally starting games on a regular basis. In a season of inconsistencies for Arsenal, Elneny has perhaps been the one bit of constant for Mikel Arteta.
If Arsenal are to turn their season around, they will need all the help they can get and there should be no doubt about Elneny giving it all for the side.