Arsene Wenger is considering using Egyptian midfielder Mohammed Elneny, as part of a solution to Arsenal’s defensive problems heading into the new season.
With Shkodran Mustafi yet to return to training after the Confederations Cup, Gabriel Paulista out injured, while Koscielny serves the rest of his three-match-ban, the 25-year-old will have to step back to fill the void.
The French manager has admitted the switch could be permanent after the midfielder’s impressive display against Bayern and Chelsea filling in as a ‘ball playing’ center back.
With Arsenal set to continue with the three-defender formation, Wenger believes Elneny will be the perfect fit for the position if he’s flanked with two fast defenders.
“Of, course he is,” Wenger told Arsenal.com
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“When he plays there, he does extremely well. Elneny is a player who has a fantastic mentality and attitude, and his main target is to help the team.[/perfectpullquote]
“The advantage we have is that we have a good stability in our squad, so I already know who I can combine with who more or less.
“Of course [he needs to learn the defensive side], but I always felt like a good central midfielder can be a good center back,” he added.
[perfectpullquote align=”full” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“Overall I played players like Elneny in the back three and he has coped very well, Matiland-Niles also played in the centre-back as well, even in the big games against Chelsea.[/perfectpullquote]
“With the fact of course that when you’re playing in the back four, you have to be decisive in challenges, you just have to be more flexible in the middle of a back three.”
Elneny has taken to the new role as a duck to water and could be Arsenal’s starting center back next season. Arsenal’s next pre-season game will be against Portugal’s Benfica and La Liga outfit Sevilla, in the Emirates Cup on July 29th and 30th respectively.
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