Having been deemed not good enough for El Ahly, where he had played at several youth levels, Elneny’s introduction to Egyptian league football came when he joined Cairo-based side Arab Contractors – known locally as El Mokawloon.
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This Egyptian midfielder has just signed for the club from Basel and for those that don’t know he has a lot of potential being just 23 years of age.
– You Are My Arsenal (@YouAreMyArsenal) January 14, 2016 ElNeny straight into the XI to partner Ramsey; instantly improves our passing, mobility and energy in midfield.
“I bought Elneny because he can play with a defensive player, and he can be the defensive player”, Wenger said.
Speaking in the wake of their 3-3 draw with Liverpool on Wednesday night, the Arsenal boss confirmed the arrival of Elneny, who is in contention to make his debut at the weekend.
After the match, Olivier Giroud tweeted: “Good game yesterday”.
“My most significant game for Basel was the 2-1 away win over Fiorentina”.
With midfielder Francais Coquelin still injured and squad players Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Flamini both deemed past their best, Elneny is believed to be the man to help fill that role.
“I have not decided yet how everyone recovered, but there are no new injuries from Liverpool game”.
Perhaps the adversity of an extended injury list has galvanised the remaining fit players or maybe the penny has finally dropped in terms of the extent of the commitment Klopp demands for his players but the result against Arsenal showed they no longer accept the inevitable.
“I would like to tell (the fans) that, although you have not seen much of me, I promise I will contribute positively with the team”. “You try to check who needs a breather and who needs a rest, and you do it. It is easier to keep the squad focused and motivated when you have many games”.
Wenger’s press conferences usually involve a moment of light-heartedness, and today it came courtesy of a question about the number of subs on a bench. It was my function and the fact that I’m responsible for the club that was attacked.
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“Then you need a little bit of luck and we had it. We changed players and it was a ideal ball for Christian [Benteke], a flawless header and a ideal finish”. We had nothing, but I had nothing with Sam Allardyce.
