‘I don’t care what anyone says’: Ian Wright praises ‘brilliant’ Arsenal player with 1 start

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Ian Wright has praised Mohamed Elneny as a ‘brilliant’ player for Arsenal, regardless of what the perception is of the midfielder.

The former striker added that someone like Elneny can ‘take care of the ball’ and help Mikel Arteta’s side ‘control’ matches, especially with Oleksandr Zinchenko currently out injured. 

Elneny has been sidelined for most of this season, making only one appearance, Arsenal’s 2-1 win over Fulham in August before suffering a thigh problem.

But ahead of the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, he is back in training, although, he wasn’t part of the matchday squad that saw the Gunners thrash Nottingham Forest 5-0 on Sunday.

He will probably make an appearance for his side’s dead rubber clash against FC Zurich in the Europa League on Thursday, before supplying some much-needed cover for Thomas Partey during these coming months.

Nonetheless, Wright was full of praise for the Egypt international, who penned a new contract at the start of the year, and his importance to the team, as he told Premier League Productions (29/10/22 at 1:10 pm).

“I don’t care whatever anyone thinks of Elneny, I think he is brilliant for us,” said Wright. “To freshen it up a little bit, so you can get somebody that can control the game because, at the moment, we can’t as we would want to without Zinchenko being there.

“Someone like Elneny comes in and he can take care of the ball.”

WILL ARSENAL SIGN ANOTHER DEFENSIVE MIDFIELDER?

Thomas Partey is the undisputed number six at Arsenal and there is a fear of who could replace him if he is out injured or suspended.

Yes, Elneny can fill that void and do a job over a period of time, but not to the extent or quality of Partey himself.

There are questions being asked if Arsenal will dip into the January transfer market and sign another midfielder ahead of their Premier League title push.

Is another defensive-minded midfielder needed to provide more cover? Or perhaps a number eight? Either way, refreshment is needed, because that could help them during the crunch moments of the season.