Arsenal Vs Everton: Mohamed Elneny and the point of depth

Arsenal travel to Everton on Sunday with as many as three central midfielders unavailable for selection. This is why depth, in the form of Mohamed Elneny, is important.

As Arsenal search for that ever-elusive top-four finish, the relentless need to just keep on winning is insatiable. On Sunday, they must travel to Goodison Park and overcome a tricky and improving Everton side that are by no means pushovers. And the train must simply keep on rolling.

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It does not matter what players are available for selection. It does not matter who Unai Emery selects, what shape he plays, or even the execution of the players on the pitch. The only thing that matters is the victory, with or without the stars and performance.

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And in central midfield, Emery does have some problems to solve. Lucas Torreira is suspended and will certainly miss the trip, Granit Xhaka has missed training for much of the week and is a major doubt, while Aaron Ramsey, the other presumed starter, only returned to training on Friday after suffering a groin problem in Monday’s win over Newcastle United in the second half and is another fitness uncertainty.

Who is able to win the injury race before Sunday remains to be seen. But even if Ramsey or Xhaka are able to play, it is doubtful that they will be at 100% and relying on them for full intensity over 90 minutes is a little naive. The only fully fit, established starter at Emery’s disposal this weekend is 19-year-old Matteo Guendouzi, who filled in for Xhaka brilliantly against Newcastle.

This is where a player like Mohamed Elneny is invaluable. Elneny is a limited footballer. He is energetic, dogged, but has athletic and technical restrictions that constrain his production. However, as a fifth-choice central midfielder, he is a perfectly capable option to turn to. And that is still a valuable part of a squad.

The idea of depth, versatility and having a squad that can handle the inevitable onslaught of injuries and suspensions is something that Arsenal have often overlooked. Typically, they have tended to assemble a rather strong starting XI, but then suffer when crucial players miss extended periods through injury — I am thinking specifically of players like Laurent Koscielny and Santi Cazorla.

But having someone like Elneny who can be a reliable, consistent player in the odd matches throughout the season is extremely useful. It isn’t flashy. It is almost always overlooked. It does not carry the profile or panache that the modern game is increasingly obsessed with.

Depth is a critical aspect of having an elite, highly competitive squad. And in players like Elneny, Arsenal have it. On Sunday against Everton, they may have to use it.