It has now been confirmed by Arsenal that the Egyptian midfielder Mo Elneny has extended his contract and will be starting his seventh season at the Emirates for the next campaign. Elneny has never been an automatic starter in all those years but has always proved to be an able backup when called upon, as he proved yet again during our injury-filled end of season run-in.
Everyone thought that Elneny would be moving to the Turkish Superliga this summer but Mikel Arteta has intervened after being impressed with his contribution this season. Arteta told Arsenal.com: “Mo is a really important part of the team. He brings endless energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the team and is loved by everyone. He’s an important player for us on and off the pitch, a real role model to our younger players and I’m delighted he’s staying.”
Elneny himself had made no secret of the fact that he was hoping that the club would give him another year, aif not longer, nd now its been confirmed he is over the moon. He said: “I feel like when you play in one of the biggest teams in the world and you have an amazing family and the fans are really amazing as well – they make me feel special,”
“You feel like you are special for this club and this club is special for you. Of course, I want to stay here until I finish my career actually.”
He went on praise Arteta for believing in him: “I needed to hear what he’s thinking about me and I always say to him, ‘Mikel, I really appreciate what you’ve done for me.’
“Because with Mikel I play more than I was before. I said to him, ‘Mikel, if you say to me that you want me to stay or you want me to leave, I’m going to do whatever you want.’
“Then the way he spoke about me is something that really makes me emotional.
“It was really good for me to hear it from Mikel, about the way I play and the way I’m happy with him and being positive. It’s incredible for me to feel this way from Mikel, from the club and from Edu. I’m really happy.”
I don’t think there will be many Arsenal fans that would complain about the club giving a new contract to one of our most loyal and useful backup players, and at 29 years of age, he may have a few more years at the Emirates yet….
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You not serious. We going nowhere and I will be proven right once again. We are a team without ambitions and we will nothing in the next 10 years
Wow really??? Can you give me the lottery numbers while you are at it, you pompous know-nothing windbag! (Oh i feel better now!)
If you have nothing of interest to say, go troll a different website….
Wow I’m shocked Pat, it’s so unlike you!!
I know lol.
But predicting ten years of failure just by looking at his crystal ball?
troll!
😀
I actually think he deserves to leave. I think it would be great for him to be playing on a weekly basis and enjoying regular football.
Seems like a great guy.
Now we can sell him instead of losing him for free. Sell him and sign John mcginn
Am happy for him, I don’t know about the club.
At least these management won’t have excuses of clearing anything like deadwood again with this move.
Cause we have been clearing deadwood since 3 years now..
Welcome to Arsenal only club with deadwood.
No problem with this as long as it doesn’t effect us bringing in two midfielders and hopefully we sell Xhaka to Roma. Elneny is happy being a squad player and he will have a role to play in the EUL group stages and early league Cup rounds as one of the experienced heads around what is expected to be predominantly team lineups filled with youngsters.
(EUL group stages/early LC rounds)
Turner
Norton-Cuffy White Rekik Tavares
Elneny Lokonga
Nelson ESR Gakpo
Moller
Subs: Okwonko Cedric Ballard Tielemans patino Omari-Hutchinson Martinelli Toney
More reason we’ve stagnated and missing to sign players like Bruno G. Can’t move on signing average players
What some people struggle to understand is that we won’t be able to bring all the players that this squad needs during this summer only. it also makes sense both financially and on a sporting level.here we have a player happy to be a squad player,who is a true professional and a good role model.not only that but it’s not like his wages are a drain on the club finances, he’s been at the club for 6 years now(I think) why lose him when he is entering what should be his peak years.lastly it is a 1 year contract with the option of an extra one which means that we could get a fee even a small one if we decide to sell him next summer just by activating the option.
Thanks, common sense.
You also get some few great games from him per season and other average ones,
For a club having four competitions, shortage of reliable players in the position, and a thin squad in general, why not to extend for a year ot two?!
We need two strikers(especially if Eddie left), a left back(Pepe is teportedly leaving), a right back, a midfielder(at least) and a right winger.
We already brought backup goal keeper. That is seven players.
If Saliba and Ballard left, you add center back
That is 8 players. If Xhaka and Niles that is an extra midfielder, 9 players.
Is Arsenal capable of bringing 9 world class players?!
Along with Xhaka, they would both be good utility players, but not the future for the first team, I feel they slow the game down.
So pleased for MO, what a model professional player he is and has never brought the club into the disrepute.
He may not be world class, but he has become another MA signing and has the manager’s full backing.
Now let’s concentrate on getting Saliba on board 100% to improve the defence and sign two top class forwards.