A few weeks ago, we noted Mohammed Elneny’s significant role this season, even if he has been injured for most of this season. That piece was titled, “Arsenal midfielder has no interest in moving to any other team.” Here’s another important insight about the 30-year-old:
When Arteta opted to extend Elneny’s deal a few months ago, not many understood why. But the fact is that the two played together in Arteta’s last six months under Wenger before he retired and he has been through all the turmoil of the end of Wenger’s reign and the changes under Unai Emery before this new very exciting era arrived with Arteta in charge.
With all this experience at Arsenal, the Arsenal expert Chris Wheatley thinks these are the reasons why Arteta fought for the Egyptian international to stay. Speaking on his YouTube channel, the journalist hints that the midfielder is crucial to Arteta’s project. His experience and leadership in the dressing room are vital to what the Spaniard is building at the Emirates. Arteta loves him on his team.
“Yeah Elneny is back on the training pitches; he’s been pictured running for the first time since having surgery on his knee. It’s good news for Arsenal; he brings a lot to the dressing room, and Mikel Arteta really does like him; that’s why he offered him a new contract a couple of months ago. Elneny will be aiming to return for the start of pre-season,” Wheatley said.
Among the many things that have cost Arsenal’s young squad this season is inexperience. With Xhaka leaving, Arsenal will have one less leader and experienced star; Elneny being there could be beneficial.
As he once said, speaking to the Independent a few weeks ago: “The first ever interview I gave when I signed, they asked me about what I saw in the future — I said I wanted to be an Arsenal legend.
“I still want to be that; I want to stay here as long as I can because of how much I love this club. I don’t think I would be able to go and play for a different team any more.”
Hopefully Arsenal will kick on to try and win the league next season, and in the future, Elneny will be remembered as a calming influence as the Arsenal youngsters grow and mature together.
I think it is pretty certain that the 30 year-old Egyptian will start doing his coaching badges and will be helping Jack Wilshere with our even younger members next season, while remaining available to play occasionally when called upon.
Elneny is obviously respected by Arteta and so he should be by the fans as well…
Like the dude. Lift some weight maybe? and be our calm destroyer. Some days I miss Guendouzi…he is made of sterner stuff, tall, flexible, strong, wont crumble easily and will ALWAYS get in the mix. He is worth 4 points across a whole season atleast, in matches that needs to be closed out
Elneny doesn’t want to leave because he makes 50k a week here just to train and show up to matches, appearing every now and then. He won’t make that kind of money anywhere else.
Great attitude he has though, always tries his hardest and has smile on his face. Cold fact is that he’s not good enough for current Arsenal aiming for titles. He was a decent squad player when we were in midtable-top6 obscurity but I don’t see him as a rotation player for CL playing team.
I would sell him if possible and replace his role next season with Patino who just returned from his loan.
Witg Xhaka and Jorginho likely leaving, we will need 2 heavy caliber midfielders to come in.
What are you on about?he tried to leave several times but MA refused to let him go.what makes so sure that Elneny loves being a substitute?as for 50K/week,he could easily triple it by moving to the Middle -East.
I ❤️ u for that reply
You’re right by bro! Why question his mere salary. Doesn’t make sense!
Blackpool fans say Patino is awful and one of the worst loan signings ever
Not true! He is only 19 but played 33 times in the hampionship this season. Speaking to Football League World, Carlton Palmer said: “Charlie Patino has been on loan at Blackpool, he’s had a very good season, although it has been disappointing for Blackpool, and they have relegated.
“He’s done very, very well.
“He’s made it very, very clear that he doesn’t want to go back to Arsenal and just be sitting there, making up the numbers.
“He does not want to go on a loan move, he’s said that he wants to go and play football, and he wants to push through a permanent deal.
“So, I suppose it’s a conversation he’s going to have with Mikel Arteta, he’s a very talented player, and he’s not one I think the club will want to lose.
I fully get the idea that MA wants a sort of family atmosphere within the training ground and in the squad in general Fair enough, no problem with THAT.
But footballi s also a highly intensive and corporate business- God knows how I wish it had never gone in tha tcorporate direction- but that battle was lost decades ago.
Speaking personally, I have held my nose about supporting CORPORATE level fotball AT ALL for many decades and esp since the PREM was formed. Corporate financial level football , being(UGH!) the case though, It seems perverse, to my mind, to pay an inferior player such as Elneny simply to be a popular team mate.
However, IF Elneny is seen as a coach in waiting, I have no objection to him being kept within the club, PROVIDED HE DOES NOT PLAY,except in injury crisies.
But his present salary seems way out of kilter with a would be rookie coach, who right now is not even more than a keen “maybe, maybe not” future club coach.
There ARE fans on here who actually convince themselves that markedly inferior players such as Elneny, Holding and others of that ilk SHOULD STAY.!!!
I say if we wish to challenge at real top level such players need to be gone, pronto, at least while they are still players and not coaches.
And rookie coaches come at far cheaper salaries then players, rightly in corporate thinking , though wrongly, IF I had my way!
For if I had my way, no player in the world would earn more then ten grand a week. Not a single one, anywhere!
Elneny is in my opinion one of the most overrated midfielders I have seen at Arsenal. His performances in team meetings and other backroom contributions to team building must be outstanding.