With the January transfer window in full swing, transfer rumours have begun circulate. Even before the transfer window opened, Arsenal have been linked with a move for FC Basel’s Egyptian defensive midfielder Mohamed Elneny. So, who is this relatively unknown player and what might be he bring to Arsenal?
Who is he?
Mohamed Elneny (or El Neny) was born in the Nile Delta region of North-Eastern Egypt on July 11th 1992. Throughout his career, he has played as a strong defensive midfielder, but he has also played as a box to box midfielder along with brief spells as a more attacking midfielder. Technically accomplished, his strength and stamina set him apart from other players in his position.
After spending most of this youth career at Egyptian giants Al Ahly, but he left to fellow Cairo based Egyptian top flight team El Mokawloon, where he made his professional debut in 2008. It took him 2 years to break into the first team, which he did during the 2010-2011 season. The next year he continued to play regularly, but after the Egyptian league was postponed as a result of the Port Said stadium disaster in February 2012 he did not play again for Mokawloon and played solely for the Egyptian U23 team and later the Egyptian senior national team.
In January 2013, he was scouted by FC Basel while playing at their winter training camp in Spain. He impressed the coaches and was signed on a loan contract until the end of the season. He made his unofficial debut in a 1-1 draw against Steaua București while still on trial with the Swiss club and he made his full FC Basel debut in the Swiss Super League in a 3-0 win over Sion in February 2013. He won the Swiss Super league title at the end of the season and he was a runner up in the Swiss Cup as well as reaching the Europa League semi finals, playing both legs in a penalty win over Spurs in the quarter finals. Basel chose to sign Elneny at the end of the season and he continued to play regularly with Basel the next season. He scored his first goal for Basel over a year after signing for the club in April 2014 in a win over Zurich. Again, he won the Swiss league title and finished runner up in Swiss Cup. He also participated in the Champions League and the Europa League, he played both Champions League group stage wins against Chelsea. Fellow Egyptian Mohamed Salah scored in both those games, beofore his move to Chelsea that January. He is a long time friend of Elneny, having played in Egypt (both at club level and internationally) and with Basel with him. Overall, in his first full season at Basel, Elneny played 55 games scoring 1 goal.
In 2014-15, Elneny again won the league title (for the third consecutive year of Elneny’s career and sixth successive season overall) and again lost the Swiss Cup final (for again the third consecutive year). They reached the round of 16 of the Champions league, gaining a 1-1 draw at Liverpool in the group stage, but lost to Porto in that round. Elneny finished the season with 5 goals in 51 games in all competitions. So far this season, Elneny has played 28 times for Basel, scoring 6 times. This means that in half a season, he already doubled his Basel goal tally highlighting the goal scoring form that he is currently in.
What could he bring to Arsenal?
Elneny’s transfer seems to be a very stereotypical Arsenal move. He is a young player, he will turn 24 in July, who is yet to hit his prime and has European experience. He also seems to be a long term solution to Arsenal’s defensive midfield problem, although maybe not the solutions the fans would have expected. Elneny seems to be in good form this season and he will be an important squad player for the rest of the season, it looks a little bit unlikely he will usurp Ramsey, Cazorla or Coquelin once all three are fit. Until then, he may fit into the side. Elneny looks to be the player who will finally bring young, midfield cover to a team who are seriously challenging for the Premier League title.
Any drawbacks of the signing?
This signing seems to be heralding the end of Mikel Arteta’s, Tomas Rosicky’s and Mathieu Flamini’s Arsenal career. All are ageing, but none have plans to retire. Arteta’s career has been slowing down for a long time, maybe since first signing for Arsenal. All three have had injury problems and although for some fans it will be said to see them go, it might not be such a bad thing. Elneny’s signing isn’t one from the new era of a big spending Arsenal, it harks from the times in the past where finding good value was a necessity. He isn’t an Özil, a Sanchez or a Cech and Arsenal fans probably don’t want to get used to so called “smaller name” signings. But, Wenger made these smaller names some of the best players in league. Little was expected of Anelka, Henry, Van Persie, and the list goes on. Little seems to be expected of Elneny, but he could surprise people so maybe don’t write him off yet.
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