Arsenal: Mohamed Elneny The Possible Heir To Santi Cazorla

While Cazorla continues to perform brilliantly for Arsenal, he is now at the wrong side of 30 and will need to be replaced sometime soon. Could Mohamed Elneny take up the mantel at the base of our midfield?

Santi Cazorla has been lacing up for Arsenal for over four seasons now and I will be one of the many to admire the stellar job he has done at this football club. Whether it be on the wing, behind the striker or in central midfield, ‘The Little Magician’ has been sensational at scoring, creating chances and setting the tempo for our side.

Related: Arsene Wenger’s Best Ever Starting XI

This season has been no different for Santi. Having gotten over last year’s injury problem, he continues to impress in a deeper lying position. I am one of those fans that believes Arsenal would have been much closer to the title last season had Cazorla been fit for the majority of the campaign.

Yet despite this, Cazorla will be 32 come June and his physical powers will begin to decline. Given that Santi has been such an integral part of the side in the past half a decade, he will definitely need an adequate replacement.

Many Gooners will read that last sentence and immediately look to the transfer market for a glamourous expensive solution (Isco is one that particularly comes to mind). And while this may be the way forward, there are many of Arsene’s favourite ‘internal solutions’ that could be utilised.

With Xhaka and Coquelin likely to be fighting it out for the more defensive of the two sitting midfield positions (in Wenger’s favoured 4-2-3-1 formation), it will be up to the trio of Ramsey, Wilshere and Elneny to provide Arsenal with quality in the other deep lying role. I am here to argue that the latter could be the best choice.

While Ramsey and Wilshere may seem like more outright glamourous replacements to Cazorla, Elneny’s game looks more suited to the role. While Wilshere can never retain fitness for long enough to remain relevant and Ramsey often lacks discipline, Elneny has the control and intelligence to excel in Cazorla’s role.

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

Elneny (like Cazorla) will not often misplace a pass and possesses the ability to dictate the speed of Arsenal’s attacks. While a midfielder is tasked with creativity (something the two British boys above do have in abundance), considering we have the Ozil in our side, they are also relied on to provide stability. Elneny has both the strength and the guile to make tackles yet also unlock opposition defences without compromising our defensive structure.

Elneny is an often underrated member of our current set-up. He may not be racking up minutes at the moment,  but at 24 he is crucial to what we achieve in the future. Elneny will never be one for topping the goals scored or assists charts. Yet during his short tenure at the Emirates, he has done nothing to suggest he doesn’t belong here.

For now, I (like many) will continue to enjoy Cazorla’s brilliance whilst knowing that when he declines, we are well stocked to deal with it. Arsenal have, In Mohamed Elneny, a ready-made internal replacement who can certainly fill the big shoes (not literally) of Santi Cazorla.

Next: Arsenal's 30 Greatest Players Ever

So what do you think Gooners? Does Elneny have the skillset to take over from Cazorla or should someone else be bestowed with that responsibility? Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.