Arsenal is possibly the only side to face a maximum number of absentees for injuries this season and for that reason manager Arsene Wenger would bring more options at the center. Following his earlier promise, Frenchman signed Basel’s 23-year-old midfielder Mohamed Elneny to fill the space created by Francis Coquelin. There has recently been growing criticism of the Emirate side for not having enough stamina in the field and fans were eagerly waiting when they can see their side dominating the field even during extended hours. Although, Gunners are having a great English spell this year with a comfortable ranking on the board, yet their upcoming FA Cup game against Burnley on Saturday is largely being seen as their test since Turf Moor side is also having a brilliant lineup of star players hence Wenger would like to show best of his talent who can serve the team on needy hours.
If we talk specifically about Mohamed Elneny, this Egyptian footballer has been impressive off late which was the sole reason 66-year-old Frenchman decided to bring him at the helm. However, refusing to have been over relying on the new entrant, Wenger explained his stand over his final eleven and if they are strong enough to face any opponent, he said, “He’s (Mohamed Elneny) not a monster. So he’s not a powerhouse, he’s more a mobility player. That’s why I think he can suit our game.
“Winning the ball is not only down to power. It’s to switch on at the right moment, it’s a technique. You have players who are muscular and they lost fights against small players who are very slim because the small players they switch it on at the right moment. When do you switch your muscle on? It’s when the guy is in a weak position. It’s a real technique. I think he (Elneny) was surprised by the intensity of the game (against Stoke and Chelsea), and by the challenges. At the start the players are surprised by the fact that the referee lets it go. In England you will often hear the referee say ‘Get on with it, get on with it.’ In the other countries you get a whistle.”
Calling a win at this time extremely necessary to keep team’s moral high especially after weekend loss to Chelsea, he added, “First of all we lost last Sunday, and it’s important not to drop our confidence level. And secondly, we want to do well in the FA Cup. We don’t win with kids anymore, unfortunately, even against championship teams.”