Talk is intensifying over a new contract for Mohamed Elneny. (Editor: runout is the contract is now agreed)
Alongside the talk about his contract renewal, Leicester City’s Youri Tielemans seems to be a player in our sight.
When it comes to Elneny, I am firmly in the “keep” camp.
I have always liked our curly haired Egyptian king. He is the exact sort of player you need in a 23 man squad.
Not everyone can be a superstar – unless you have Manchester City’s billions. You need players like Elneny who can come in, do a job, rarely let you down, and then won’t complain when back on the bench.
Elneny knows his game. He knows he is not a world beater and does not try to be. He keeps things simple. This is why he sometimes get criticised by Arsenal fans who seem to think every player should be a game changer.
In recent weeks, he has shown he is decent enough cover for the injured Thomas Partey.
In the past, Elneny being cover for Partey has worried me due to being African.
To lose both for up to 6 weeks in January could have spelt disaster. But from next season the African Cup of Nations becomes a summer tournament. So no longer will teams have to take into account losing players in the winter when recruiting.
Elneny might not be an inspiring contract renewal, but it is the right decision.
If we let him go, we probably then need to sign two new central midfielders.
Taking into account we need to invest heavily further up the field this season, a new Elneny deal makes sense.
We need reinforcements in midfield. But I would like to see us go big on someone like Youri Tielemans who would provide a new attacking dimension to our midfield.
If keeping Elneny as cover freed up the cash to splash on Tielemans I would be more than happy.
Tielemans would then come in as the competition for Granit Xhaka on the left hand side of the midfield three.
Partey and Odergaard would be the first name on the teamsheet. A decision would then be made between Tielemans and Xhaka depending on the opponent.
At home to Bournemouth where we want to set up more attacking, Tielemans starts. Away to Liverpool where we want a bit more defensive cover, Xhaka is given the nod.
The bench would also massively be strengthened.
If Tielemans is on the bench, he becomes a creative outlet if we are chasing a game. If Elneny and/or Xhaka is on the bench, they can come on and provide defensive cover if we are trying to close out the game.
£30-40million is the rumoured fee for Tielemans.
Keeping Elneny and signing Tielemans will give us great strength and depth in the middle of the park as we return to European football.
Yesterday on Twitter there was a lot of chatter over who you would prefer. Jarrod Bowen or Bukayo Saka?
My answer is simple.
Bowen would be a fantastic option for Arsenal as back up for Saka.
Still just 25-years-old, Bowen has been in fine form this season with 10 goals and 10 assists. His form has surely got him knocking on the door for England where he would provide cover for Saka. Something which he would also do if he moved from East to North London.
Bowen ticks a lot of boxes – he is in the age range of recent Arsenal signings, is home grown and has Premier League and European experience.
Naturally left footed, he would be perfect cover for Saka without Arsenal needing to sacrifice playing style.
Bowen is also more than capable on his right foot which is why he is such a danger at times – he can go either way when taking on an opponent.
Bowen has shown clearly progression during his career.
52 goals in the Championship before moving to West Ham for just shy of £20million.
8 goals and 5 assists last season has turned into 10 and 10 this. Comfortably West Ham’s best player, he will surely be itching to take the next step and play at a higher level next season.
The only sticking point would be price tag.
Transfermarkt currently value him at £31.5million. This feels cheap.
I would imagine it would take an offer in excess of £40million to secure a man of Bowen’s profile; which might be too much for what would essentially be a back-up player. An understudy to someone 5 years his junior.
So Saka or Bowen? How about we have both in North London next season.
Talk is intensifying over a new contract for Mohamed Elneny. And I am in the “keep” camp.
I have always liked our curly haired Egyptian king. He is the exact sort of player you need in a 23 man squad.
Not everyone can be a superstar – unless you have Manchester City’s billions. You need players like Elneny who can come in, do a job, rarely let you down, and then went complain hen back on the bench.
Elneny knows his game. He knows he is not a world beater and does not try to be. He keeps things simple. This is why he sometimes get criticised by Arsenal fans who seem to think every player should be a game changer.
In recent weeks, he has shown he is decent enough cover for the injured Thomas Partey.
We need reinforcements in midfield. But I would like to see us go big on someone like Youri Tielemans who would provide a new attacking dimension to our midfield.
If keeping Elneny as cover freed up the cash to splash on Tielemans I would be more than happy.
Partey Elneny Odergaard Tielemans Lokonga Xhaka
Tielemans would then come in as the competition for Granit Xhaka on the left hand side of the midfield three.
Partey and Odergaard would be the first name on the teamsheet. A decision would then be made between Tielemans and Xhaka depending on the opponent.
At home to Bournemouth where we want to set up more attacking, Tielemans starts. Away to Liverpool where we want a bit more defensive cover, Xhaka is given the nod.
The bench would also massively be strengthened.
If Tielemans is on the bench, he becomes a creative outlet if we are chasing a game. If Elneny and/or Xhaka is on the bench, they can come on and provide defensive cover if we are trying to close out the game.
In the past, Elneny being cover for Partey has worried me due to being African.
To lose both for up to 6 weeks in January could have spelt disaster. But from next season the African Cup of Nations becomes a summer tournament. So no longer will teams have to take into account losing players in the winter when recruiting.
Elneny might not be an inspiring contract renewal, but it is the right decision.
If we let him go, we probably then need to sign two new central midfielders.
Taking into account we need to invest heavily further up the field this season, a new Elneny deal makes sense.
(4-3-3) Aaron Ramsdale; Takehiro Tomiyasu, Rob Holding, Gabriel Magalhães, Cédric Soares; Martin Ødegaard, Mohamed Elneny, Granit Xhaka; Bukayo Saka, Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Martinelli.
Substitutes: Bernd Leno, Alexandre Lacazette, Emile Smith-Rowe, Nicolas Pépé, Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Salah-Eddine Oulad M’Hand, Zak Swanson, Charlie Patino.
Scorers: Eddie Nketiah (5 mins, 10 min)
Yellow Cards: Gabriel Magalhães, Takehiro Tomiyasu
Arsenal Possession Percentage: 64%
Referee: Chris Kavanagh
Assistant Referees: Harry Lennard, Marc Perry
Fourth Official: Andre Marriner
VAR Team at Stockley Park: VAR John Brooks; AVAR Dan Robathan
Attendance: 60,108
As every match is an important one now, there are no margins for error, nor the arena is one for faint hearts either. Both of the teams here today will need a win (for different reasons), so the reason should lead to an excellent contest between the Yorkshiremen and ourselves. With regards to the match this afternoon, Mikel Arteta has made one change to the side that beat West Ham United last Sunday, with Cédric Soares replacing Nuno Tavares at left-back.
The visitors kicked off this crucial match in the North London sunshine, and the early stages of this game were quite rough and dogged. Bukayo Saka won a free-kick on the right wing, which although went nowhere, certainly tested the Leeds United defenders. After just five minutes, we took the lead in bizarre circumstances, when Illan Meslier failed to control a backpass which allowed Eddie Nketiah to nip in and score, and five minutes later, that man again grabbed his second goal of the match when Gabriel Martinelli crossed a low ball into the Leeds United penalty area from the left wing, for Eddie Nketiah’s left footed shot from the centre of the box to the centre of the goal, thus extending our lead to two goals. We then continued to pressurise the visitors, who were giving the ball away cheaply as we were actively hunting a third goal now. Gabriel picked up a yellow card for a strong tackle, and after twenty minutes it became obvious that we were by far the most dominant team out there today. Eddie Nketiah almost got a hat-trick when his right-footed shot from the right hand side of the six-yard box went narrowly wide and the visitors were now visibly having difficulty in handling the twin pronged attacks from Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka out on the wings feeding Eddie Nketiah in the centre of the penalty area seemingly at will. With Granit Xhaka, Cédric Soares and Bukayo Saka getting closer to scoring a third goal with excellent chances, it seemed only a matter of time before we got our third goal. After twenty-five minutes, Luke Ayling committed an appalling two-footed tackle on Gabriel Martinelli; initially referee Chris Kavanagh produced a yellow card, but after consulting the pitchside monitor on advice from the VAR team at Stockley Park, he had no choice but to reconsider his decision and dismiss the Leeds United man. Down to ten men, the visitors started to lose both their heads and their discipline, as we started to make good capital on our extra man advantage. With seven minutes of the first half remaining, Gabriel Martinelli drilled an attempt across the six-yard line, as Bukayo Saka won a free-kick which led to Diego Llorente hooking it off the line. So close, so near. For the remaining minutes of the first half (including the four minutes injury time), we just carried in applying intolerable pressure on the visitors’ goal until referee Chris Kavanagh brought matters to a contented and satisfying close (for us).
We started the second half with much anticipation of scoring more goals over the next forty-five minutes, and almost immediately we started to apply pressure on the visitors’ goal; time and time again Gabriel Martinelli was terrorising the Leeds United defence with quick and intelligent running both on and off the ball. It was becoming clear to everyone that the visitors were keeping everyone behind the ball in an attempt to prevent more goals being leaked, but only time will tell if their tactics are successful or not. After six minutes into the new half, Takehiro Tomiyasu slotted the ball to Gabriel, whose left-footed shot from the centre of the box was somehow saved in the centre of the goal by goalkeeper Illan Meslier. Just minutes later, Gabriel Martinelli twisted and turned two Leeds United defenders before shooting at the visitors’ goal, which resulted (eventually) in four consecutive corner kicks, all of which saw the Leeds United defence completely at sixes and sevens in their desire to clear the ball from danger, which they just about did. Gabriel Martinelli was desperately unlucky in not scoring from close range on the hour, and again a cross from Cédric Soares saw our flying winger narrowly shooting wide. After sixty-six minutes, the first corner of the match from the visitors led to a messy goal from Diego Llorente, which was unfortunate to say the least, and totally against the run of play. Just after a silly yellow card received by Takehiro Tomiyasu, a fatigued Bukayo Saka was replaced by Nicolas Pépé a couple of minutes after the visitors’ goal. Unfortunately for us, this goal sparked the visitors into life and they started to play with more desire and purpose now. Gabriel Martinelli went down with cramp, but fortunately was able to return to the game shortly afterwards. Martin Ødegaard went narrowly close with a superb left-footed shot, and just after we had a penalty appeal turned down by the VAR team, Gabriel Martinelli was replaced by Emile Smith-Rowe with twelve minutes of the match remaining on the clock. Almost immediately, Emile Smith-Rowe got into the action, causing Leeds United problems in and around the box, and after he was brought down just outside the visitors’ penalty area, the resulting Martin Ødegaard free kick was easily saved by Illan Meslier. Leeds United’s Dan James won the visitors a free-kick which was pumped forward but Aaron Ramsdale, who has not had too much to do, reacted to the danger and easily gathered the ball. Eddie Nketiah was replaced by Alexandre Lacazette in the first mintue of three minutes’ injury time, and despite some real cut and thrust moments from both teams, we took the three points, thankfully.
In many ways, it was a game of two halves; the first half we utterly dominated the match, scored two excellent goals, and looked as if were going to steamroller Leeds United. Then the second half appeared, and the projected cricket score never materialised, Instead, we allowed the visitors a most fortuitous goal which set our nerves on edge for the time remaining. However, it is what it is, and we got a much-needed three points, and we can enter the North London derby on Thursday evening knowing that a win will ensure us a Champions League place for next season, the last time which we appeared in that illustrious competition being 2016-17. No pressure, chaps. By the way, Eddie Nketiah is the second player to score a brace for Arsenal in the opening ten minutes of a Premier League match, after Nwankwo Kanu in a 3-1 home win over Sunderland at The Old Place on 6th October 2002.
Remember everyone, keep the faith, get behind the team and the manager, as this season is going to be crucial for our future success in all competitions. Stick with the winners. Our next match: Tottenham Hotspur at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Thursday, 12th May at 7.45pm (Premier League). Be there, if you can. Victoria Concordia Crescit.
Steve
Too Dearly Loved To Be Forgotten: Arsenal v Racing Club de Paris 1930-1962 by Steve Ingless (Rangemore Publications, ISBN 978-1-5272-0135-4) is now available on Amazon
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 