Arsenal: Mohamed Elneny Can Be Needed Overhaul

Arsenal didn’t have too terribly much go right against Barcelona, but one thing that did go right was the use of Mohamed Elneny. Is he the long-awaited overhaul?

It always seemed like the most improbable climb. Down on aggregate two goals to nil (both those goals coming at the Emirates, no less), Arsenal needed the impossible to knock on their door and submit itself for capture. Like I said – improbable.

Related Story: Mesut Ozil Has Become Arsenal's Bastion

That climb became even less probable when Arsenal surrendered a goal that would therefore require them to score three goals and defeat the world’s greatest team 3-1. That task was given the smallest boost when Mohamed Elneny, Egyptian extraordinaire, fired a screamer into the top corner out of the reach of Ter Stegen.

It was like all the walls around Elneny’s game were broken down. Against Watford, he looked fantastic on the ball but his finishing was abysmal to say the least. He maintained possession, passed with extraordinary accuracy, and did everything he could to control the center of the pitch.

More from Arsenal News

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

Watford is one thing, Barcelona is another. Against Barcelona, Elneny continued right where he left off. Let me rattle off some numbers for you to emphasize how positive of an influence Elneny was on this Arsenal midfield. Also keep in mind that Francis Coquelin, the enforcer, was benched for Mathieu Flamini (although he did play the second half). Therefore, as the numbers will suggest, any and all control was maintained by Elneny.

For starters, Elneny completed 93% of his passes. As StatZone shows us, he was completing passes all over the pitch. He only made two incomplete pass in Arsenal’s half – translation? He didn’t turn the ball over in a dangerous position very often – twice to be exact.

It also needs to be mentioned that of the 15 passes Elneny attempted in the attacking third, only one was incomplete.

The second superb sign from Elneny’s day at Camp Nou involves all the possessions won in Arsenal’s box. There are seven positive defensive actions in or very near Arsenal’s goal box completed by Mohamed Elneny. Those seven are two tackles, two successful take-ons, two clearances and one interception.

Expanding on those numbers, Elneny made another four successful defensive actions in Arsenal’s half: two interceptions, one successful take on and one successful tackle. Elneny was such a positive defensive influence that he only had one failed defensive action on the day, a tackle. For those of you keeping track, that is a massive conversion rate of 11 of 12 defensive actions. Good luck finding the last time Flamini or Coquelin have accomplished that.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

• 3 observations from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park
• 3 standout players from 1-0 victory over Everton
• 3 positives & negatives from Goodison Park victory
• Arsenal vs PSV preview: Prediction, team news & lineups
• 3 talking points from Arsenal’s victory at Goodison Park

Thirdly, Mohamed Elneny was dispossessed a grand total of zero times. He also made a whopping zero poor touches. Those are two things Arsenal have desperately needed in the middle of the pitch and to see it come against such an organized midfield as Barcelona’s is truly a remarkable feat, especially considering that he also completed three dribbles. Also consider that in the short time Coquelin was on the pitch, he managed to get dispossessed twice.

Elneny was beyond a shade of a doubt Arsenal’s top performer. His goal was a wonderful sign, his possession retention was beauteous and his defensive contributions were clutch. Which got us to wondering. If he can do it against Barcelona, who can’t he do it against?

Again, he looked good against Premier League caliber Watford too. He followed it up with an encore against Barcelona that should have us wondering how many more performances he will actually have to put in like this before he becomes the go-to guy in the midfield.

Next: Arsene Wenger Needs Jack Wilshere To Succeed

A lot of chatter lately has been focusing on who Arsenal will utilize to overhaul their midfield this summer, but Arsenal may have all the options they need already in the squad. Mohamed Elneny and Jon Toral should give us enough to be excited about. Another defensive midfielder would be all this team needs.