Arsenal are claimed to be in talks over a new deal for Mohamed Elneny which could well have ramifications on our other squad members.
The Egyptian has been a loyal servant to the club, whether he has been enjoying a first-team role or simply filling in when he is needed, and his recent form is testament to the mentality that he has.
While we have all enjoyed his recent performances, his form clearly hasn’t gone unnoticed with TheAthletic reporting that we are now ready to offer him a new two-year deal.
While we are currently hoping to secure Champions League football, we should well be preparing to strengthen our squad, both in depth and quality, and you would imagine that a new deal for Elneny would mean that he would at least be staying on to remain as one of the 17 non-homegrown first-team squad members you’re allowed to register to play in the Premier League.
With all of Thomas Partey, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Granit Xhaka and Elneny currently as options at CM, excluding our youngsters who are yet to break into the side such as Charlie Patino and Miguel Azeez, that doesn’t leave much space for a new signing to come in and pick up their fair share of minutes, but we do believe that we are in the market for another option in midfield.
This will surely mean that at least one of our senior options will be allowed to leave this summer in my opinion, with Grani Xhaka having come close to leaving previously, while Lokonga could well be earmarked for a loan move after failing to prove himself in his limited opportunities this term.
We’re leaning towards the latter as the most likely, especially with Xhaka having seemingly turned things around with the fanbase this term, but I think allowing Xhaka to leave could be a better plan. I don’t believe he will enjoy things if he was to find himself benched for extended spells, while I also feel like he wants to be the captain again, despite his previous failure in the role.
Who do you think will be most affected by a new deal for Elneny?
Patrick
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Maybe arteta is happy with what he has atm but a young dm like danilo should be signed at least or get azeez promoted.
I don’t think a new deal for Elneny would effect anyone else. He seems quite happy to be a back up and certainly gives his best when called upon. He has limitations but is not short on skill and effort.
Declan, with regards to his performances since returning from the AC, what “limitations” are you seeing in his play?
In my opinion, we could improve every defensive and midfield position – if we had the unlimited resources of city, chelsea, newcastle etc etc.
But we have to be realistic and I regard MO as a player who has improved immensely under MA and will be a very valuable member of our squad, not necessarily as a substitute either.
Ken I have to agree with you, now am not a big fan of Mo.
You said he improve immensely, strongly agree, when I saw him in the first match I was thinking its another one off match like the one against Man u at old Trafford .
Now am seing him turning in close spaces ,demanding the ball from Ramsdale attempting to carry the ball, if Ramsdale didn’t trust him he would never pass the ball so often to him at the back.
What I can’t understand why Xhaka, Eddie
and Mo just suddenly looking so impressive, is this a sign of what to come on Thursday
Every player has some limitations but I think Mo’s skills and effort far outweighs his limitation to believe in himself. I’ve seen him in training firing in 25/30 yard shots at goal which he should try more often in games. Don’t get me wrong, I rate him highly and really hope he signs the new contract which is apparently on offer.
Thanks Declan and Gunsmoke.
I have to say, I put the improvement of both MO and Xhaka down to Mikel Arteta and I can understand completely why he has offered new contracts to both players…. there is still more to come from them and MA will bring that out.
Agree completely and Elneny staying would allow Arsenal to loan out Sambi, who needs regular football and use Maitland-Niles in p/ex for Toulemans. Azeez, Patino and Eddine are very close to promotion.
AW once said that people would be surprised at how good technically Mo is.i think in the past he didn’t have the confidence to play these towards passes…I mean when you have Ozil,Santi…you let them do their thing and concentrate on the defensive side of your game.we can see that he has grown in confidence, against Leeds he was spreading the ball pretty went well, switching sides and you could see MA on the touchline screaming,jumping,encouraging him to always play forward.as Declan said,I don’t think Mo signing an extension will affect our transfer plans,between European football,domestic cups there’ll be enough games for him and other squad players and we’ll be saving money and keep s player that won’t need time to adapt,this season and the next few should see him as his peak.
Wow
Didn’t know the great man said that about Mo, he must have seen what am just seing now.
As you said, Lokonga and our U-23 midfielders will be the most affected. Maybe Patino or Hutchinson will get promoted, but the rest would likely get loaned out
Elneny has stabilized our midfield and has been one of the major factors that contributed to our winning streak, so he deserves the new contract
Don’t do it. Mo is a nice guy, obviously loves the club but it would be a backwards step have him around for another three seasons. The reason we are winning ugly is because we don’t have midfield creativity. Some will argue that winning every which way is what matters. Probably so, however you can’t keep riding your luck forever. The chickens definitely will come home to roost. Saying Arsenal needs him because we can’t afford better is not the way forward.
Joe no one said that he should be a starter, the reason he has been playing lately is because of injuries and has done a pretty good job too and the good thing is Mo loves the club and has no problems being squad player.you can’t expect us to have 20/25 players of really high quality well not now anyway,with several of them unhappy at not playing enough and causing troubles in the dressing room.
Every successful team needs one: a no-drama, low maintenance, team player, capable of delivering when it matters. Absolutely ZERO risk to re-signing
the player.
Mo seems lean and condition at all time, he seems discipline also ,!its obvious he’s a very humble person.
Am looking at Teleimans a technical and younger player, am probably twice this kid age but surely am leaner physically, on present performance Mo is better just now, Mo brings a certain level of mobility to the table that a lot of midfielders link to us dont have.
It is hard to see us letting him leave, just his share performance has argue his case convincingly
Totally agree with RF. Joe – there’s no disgrace in having reliable, patient squad cover. He’s neither on a huge wage nor destructive, and he has improved exponentially in his creativity. Our issues are for me more that our players further forward aren’t scoring, not that they’re not getting enough ammunition. There’s also no disgrace in admitting we can’t yet afford top class cover in every position. I’ve never agreed with the view that we have a divine right to endless cash, the world’s best players and regular titles just because we are Arsenal. Fans of Liverpool, City (the 2 best club sides in the world), Man Utd and Chelsea undoubtedly feel just as “entitled”, and five won’t go into one. It is what it is at the moment and we have to build a quality full squad over time. Mo’s happy to be a backup – even if we could afford an upgrade, how many world class more offensive midfielders would accept that? It’s a 2 year not a 3 year deal, and we could still sell him after one more season if we suddenly needed to free up squad space. And wasn’t half the fanbase in January complaining that we were bereft of midfield backup? I can’t see either Patino or Lokonga being ready for more than the odd game even next season. For me it’s an absolute no brainer. Xhaka is a completely different proposition. Less offensive and slower, certain not to accept a backup role. The issue is finding a top class left sided midfielder who can play as a hybrid defensive/attacking midfielder, as there are really not that many out there and available atm.
Spot on!!
Earlier having strong views against Xhaka & Elneny the Mr. Wenger’s version and Mikel’s version, I feel we need to keep these two as replacing similar skill set players would cost between 30-40M each. Partey seems injured more than often.
What a change Mikel has brought about in Xhaka, Elneny, ESR, Eddie, Saka, Martenelli, Cedric. Plus loan deals for Saliba & Nelson is doing great wonders. Sad that Guendozi has an elephant sized ego, or else he could have done the job for us too. This has saved is millions which goes unnoticed and unappreciated .
Make no mistake, if we need to be title challengers, we still need a CDM, back up winger , CF & LB back up. Nelson could be the back up winger, leaving space for a lethal forward & a pure CDM
But if a team show up with good price we can sell Xhaka and add some one like Bisouma and we continue with our development.all what we need is some one who can the right thing at the right time.
Elneny is one of our most reliable players, disciplined and keeps his cool under the most trying conditions. That said, he is also willing to accept a squad role so he is a real team player, wants to play for the shirt. I think in all probability, ASL will be loaned out and maybe Xhaka sold if we get a right offer for him. But surely, given his performances and commitment shown, Elneny is surely staying.
Sign El Neny up! He’s been amazing! Through passes here, long passes there, solid defensively and hardly caught out of position. Gives 100% through out the game and doesn’t make silly mistakes or wayward passes. I’d give him 3 years and use him next to Partey. IMO he has rightly proven he is ahead of the disappointing likes of Lokonga and Patino in the pecking order. I am fully behind the rejuvenated EL NENY.
To be honest i dont rate Elneny even with all the great job he is said to be doing, he is an economic midfielder that just keeps the ball rolling but doest offer much creatively upfront, if this will stop us signing Tielemens or another upgrade its a no for me.
If am told its been signed up just to keep the space for Azeez and Patino to bulk up and take over, then i can understand this, which explains the two years contract option.
We have Partey, Lokonga, Elneny, Xhaka as midfielders all these players are defensive minded we don’t have a central creative midfielder in this team aside Odegaard who is an attacking midfielder.
We need someone in the realm of Fabrepass who is creative as an 8 and also can play as a 10 which to me Tielemans can do that. We can’t rely on only one creative midfielder going forward when our full backs don’t attack much.
Lokonga was brought in as a young back up for Partey, he tried from the beginning of the season but right now we have seen he is not physically ready to replace or substitute Partey. This is why Elneny took long to have gametime this season.
I would say Elneny has learned a thing or two from Patey because aside his hair there isn’t much difference between his playing pattern this season and that of Partey. All those saying he ain’t passing forward did you see the through pass to Nkethia against West Ham or the wonderful assist he gave Ozil against Ludogrates some years back in UCL game?.
Those saying he doesn’t shoot more forgets that he scored more goals from outside 18yard box last season than Partey and Xhaka combine.
I’m not saying he is a beast but he is good for the squad and won’t affect the possible acquisition of Tielemans. Let’s go with a formation of Partey-Tielemans-Odegaard as first 11, then Elneny-Xhaka-Smith Rowe as back up. Loan Lokonga to a premier league team like Fulham or even to Watford in championship so he bulkles up because Partay ain’t getting any younger.
One more thing,once more a certain someone has got it wrong when he said that Mo would never wear our jersey again!
Agree completely and Elneny staying would allow Arsenal to loan out Sambi, who needs regular football and use Maitland-Niles in p/ex for Toulemans. Azeez, Patino and Eddine are very close to promotion.
MO is a model pro with a great attitude. He’s very effective as a DM and we will have a lot of games next season. We can’t have enough of that kind of player. Keep MO and EN.
Give him a new contract of 3 yes and let him steal a living like Ozil and Auba. Arsenal extend contracts to deadwoods.
He’ll be filling a slot alloted to foreign players and yet not good to raise the level of the team.
No wonder its only Turkish clubs and like Ozil who are chasing him.