Arsenal Have Solved Very Little With Mohamed Elneny Transfer

Arsenal got their man in Mohamed Elneny but is it possible that he was a luxury signing after all and not exactly what Arsenal so desperately needed?

I need to preface this with a couple things. First of all, was I alone in my perhaps tunnel-vision belief that Mohamed Elneny was a defensive midfielder? The reports and the footage was out there as proof that Elneny was not a straight-laced defensive midfielder but given the need that Arsenal had at the position, something in my head latched onto the idea that he was going to be converted. I want to know what everyone else thought Arsenal was getting in Elneny, so please leave a comment at the bottom.

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Second preface. I was very impressed by what Mohamed Elneny provided against Burnley. I am not disappointed that we signed him. In fact, I may be even more excited than I originally was after seeing him look so composed in the middle of the pitch. Nothing about my point in this article has anything to do with me being disappointed by this signing. Because I am not.

Third preface. There is a chance that he could be a fill-in at defensive midfielder too. We have not seen how he would be used without Coquelin.

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So then, now that that is taken care of, let’s address what I see as the issue. Arsenal still only have one defensive midfielder: Francis Coquelin. The two biggest bugaboo positions for Arsenal are at striker and defensive midfield. Both have the exact same problem.

Arsene Wenger has one clear cut player at that position. Giroud is nothing but a striker. Coquelin is nothing but a defensive midfielder. Aside from that, Arsenal have no other player that can claim to be ‘nothing but a striker’ or ‘nothing but a defensive midfielder’.

And it would appear that he likes it that way.

I see the logic behind it. If he were to sign another striker, that would mean that whatever striker that is, let’s call him Strikes McGee, would be sitting behind Giroud waiting on an injury. Wenger has too much faith in Giroud to seriously bench him for a long time. He did for Theo Walcott but the faith in Walcott is massive as well.

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The same goes with Francis Coquelin. Wenger has so much faith in Francis Coquelin that he does not want to sit him. Ever. So any defensive midfield signing would be a bench warmer. That puts a potential transfer for a straight DM in a pickle. If you sign someone like Krychowiak, he will be expecting to start. Wenger will not replace Le Coq for no reason.

Similarly, signing a straight DM that does not expect to start means that that DM, we will call him D.M. McGee, is likely not quality enough to back him up either.

So the only solutions are internal, like it was with Walcott and Giroud. Two guys who have earned the faith of Wenger. The same would happen with Welbeck.

But for Coquelin, the only people to challenge for his role are Mathieu Flamini and Calum Chambers. Neither of those two options are particularly stoic. Elneny is not in that company of candidates. At least not according to what Wenger said.

While Elneny does have defensive ability, he was frequently seen driving the attack forward, controlling play, getting in scoring position and ripping off shots. He was seen less frequently making tackles and bullying Burnley off the ball. Again, this is not a critique of the guy, it is simply an observation that the problem that has needed solving since who knows when has still not been solved.

And of course, there is a chance that Elneny could fit into DM in time, but the early indications are that he absolutely will not ever be a straight defensive midfielder.

This could mean a couple things. First of all, it means that Elneny is not providing competition for Coquelin – at least not based on initial reports. He is more-so providing competition for Aaron Ramsey.

Second of all, it means that a potential move for a DM is still remotely plausible for this summer. Sometimes it takes an exodus to spur Wenger into action. Seeing a pure DM in Flamini leave may prompt Wenger to act. Of course, it may also just prompt him to say that Elneny is the guy. The latter is more likely.

I am excited to see what Elneny turns into. He looked fantastically composed for his first match with a new team. It is clear that he is going to score goals for us. But at the same time, doesn’t Arsenal still need a DM?

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Let me know what you think in the comments below. What was your take on Elneny’s performance? Do you think Arsenal still need a DM?