Why Mohamed Elneny deserves great respect from Arsenal fans

Mohamed Elneny is set to leave Arsenal upon the expiry of his contract this summer after spending the previous eight years with the club.

Since signing for the Gunners in January 2016, Elneny has made 161 appearances in the famous red and white, netting a memorable six goals. He will leave the club as the final senior player that was present during Arsene Wenger's reign.

Despite never being much more than a squad player, Elneny deserves to be remembered by Arsenal fans in a positive light and, as a result, should be well respected.

Why Mohamed Elneny deserves great respect from Arsenal fans

During his time at Arsenal, Elneny was largely used as a squad player and had limited minutes. He only eclipsed 30 seasonal appearances twice, in the 2017/18 and 2020/21 seasons respectively.

Under Mikel Arteta, Elneny was used even less and was relied on primarily as cover for injured players. He played just six games this season and eight last due to struggles with injuries. In those six game this campaign, he has played just 96 minutes of football.

Despite his lack of playing time, Elneny never complained and clearly acknowledged he would only ever be used as a squad player and thus receiving a lack of time on the pitch. When plenty of players at this level would have complained about limited game time, Elneny was happy and content.

In the games he did appear in, Elneny never failed to put in his best performances with some notable ones over the past eight years. One game Arsenal fans will remember well is the 1-0 victory at Manchester United in 2020, where Elneny pushed himself to the limit to put in a dominant midfield performance.

His willingness to be a squad player but still put in 100% when playing has allowed for Elneny to become a model professional that younger players at Arsenal can look up to and be inspired by.

Off the pitch, Elneny has also been a great role model and positive figure within the London community. He set up his own football club, Elneny FC, in 2023 which has provided opportunities for players aged between 16 and 25.

Jokingly named the 'real Egyptian King' by Arsenal fans, taking the nickname from his compatriot Mohamed Salah, Mohamed Elneny certainly deserves great respect from Gooners around the world due to his brilliant efforts both on and off the pitch.

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