Once again this season, Arsenal have faltered in their title challenge. Since January Arsenal have dropped from the top, and now are once again contending to stay in the top four. If there is a silver lining in this time, however it has been the performances of January signing, Mohamed Elneny.
Elneny joined Arsenal in January from Swiss side Basel, for a sum of £5million, which in this day and age, is unbelievably cheap. Even though he joined in January he didn’t make his debut until Arsenal’s F.A Cup fourth round clash with Hull in late February. Many fans could not understand why it took so long for Elneny to be introduced into the team, but once he got his chance, he did not look back- featuring in every game since.
You could see from his play, that he had the potential to be a key player for Arsenal: tall, strong, has a great range of passing, good reading of the game and incredible stamina. Moreover, he’s never static, constantly on his toes, closing down players at every opportunity. After a terrible run of form after the New Year, it was refreshing for Arsenal fans to see such a complete player, but also one that works hard.
So yes, he played well in his first game, but so did Chamakh. There was still a lot to prove. His first real test came in his first start for the club – The North London Derby at White Hart Lane. His performance and instant partnership with Coquelin was surprising, while Coquelin brought steel and aggression – maybe too much aggression -, Elneny showed composure and quality.
Spurs couldn’t get going at all, his quick and accurate distribution was key to our constant threat on the counter, and with them both there, Arsenal were disrupting Tottenham’s rhythm. This obviously changed when Coquelin got sent off, and it left the midfield exposed, meaning Spurs found more space and punished us.
Since that performance Elneny has improved every game, and since his Premier League debut has averaged a 93% pass success rate. What makes that stat even more impressive, is that 63.4% of his passes are forward, rather than to the side or backwards, making it harder for the opposition to defend, while quickening Arsenal’s attack. In terms of his off the ball work, Elneny is always on the move. In fact, against Everton, Watford and West Brom, he accumulated the furthest distance of any player on the pitch, running 12km (12.5km against Everton). Such has been his impressive performances over the last few months, that he won Arsenal’s ‘Player of the Month’ for March and April, highlighting how quickly he’s settled into the team.
Its work rate and consistency that we are looking for in a player who plays central midfield, and Elneny certainly brings that. Without Jack Wilshere and Santi Cazorla for large parts of the season – most of it in Wilshere’s case – Elneny has provided a vital spark in Arsenal’s midfield.
Having only arrived in January, it has left many fans wondering why the Egyptian was not acquired last summer. It’s not been a great season but Elneny is showing his potential and long may it continue.
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