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Mohamed Elneny has told Sky Sports that he would sign a new contract at Arsenal – if the Gunners decide that they want him to stay at the Emirates this summer.
THE LOWDOWN: UNLIKELY STAR
The 29-year-old joined Arsenal from FC Basel in 2016, and spent 2019-20 on loan at Besiktas.
He appeared to be a peripheral figure under both Mikel Arteta and his predecessor Unai Emery, but has recently emerged as an unlikely star of the side in recent weeks.
When three straight defeats left Arsenal’s top-four hopes in jeopardy, Arteta called Elneny into his starting XI for a daunting trip to Chelsea. It ended in victory and the midfielder has since been on the field for every minute of their last six Premier League encounters.
With his contract expiring in the summer, the Gunners are reportedly looking to tie him down to a new deal at the end of the campaign.
THE LATEST: KEEN TO STAY
Earlier this month, it was revealed in the latest edition of David Ornstein’s weekly column that negotiations are at an initial stage, but the north London outfit are determined to keep hold of the Egyptian midfielder for the foreseeable future.
The midfielder previously stated that he is indeed keen to extend his stay at the Emirates.
When asked if he would be happy to stay even if he is not guaranteed first-team football, Elneny told Sky Sports:
“I’ve said before, if Arsenal want me, it’s my club, my family, but it’s not my decision.
“I have to wait for them to say ‘Mo, we want you’.
“Since the first day I have been here, it has felt like a family. We really work like that here, it’s such a beautiful club.”
THE VERDICT: SIGN HIM UP
Previously hailed as “phenomenal” by his manager Arteta, the £8.1m-rated ace has enjoyed a tremendous few weeks in the Gunners’ first XI since Thomas Partey’s injury.
The Egyptian has formed a vital midfield partnership with Granit Xhaka, as the north London outfit chase their first Champions League finish in the Premier League for the first time since the 2015/16 campaign, after recent sour results, the Gunners currently sit fifth in the table and would need a miracle on the final day to have any chance of qualifying for Europe’s most elite competition.
However, in 13 Premier League outings and seven starts, the former Basel man has excelled superbly in his defensive contributions, forming a solid base in front of the Arsenal back-line.
He averages 1.1 interceptions, 1.2 tackles, 0.8 clearances per game as well as winning an impressive 61% of his ground duels (as per SofaScore) meaning he is a reliable and pivotal figure when defending against the ball for the club.
With Arteta looking to considerably bolster his young squad this summer, keeping the invaluable experience and qualities of the 91-time Egyptian international is of crucial importance. Sign him up.
AND in other news, club legend urges Arsenal to sign “exceptional” £63m-rated deadly finisher…
