‘Everyone has seen what he can do’: Arteta says he’s blown away by £7m Arsenal player

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Mikel Arteta has admitted that he is ‘really pleased’ with Mohamed Elneny’s performances since returning to Arsenal in the summer.

The Egypt international might be the Gunners’ surprise package of the season so far.

Elneny was loaned to Besiktas in 2019 after being deemed surplus to requirements under former Arsenal boss Unai Emery.

It was assumed that the North Londoners would try to move him on during the summer but the former Basel midfielder is rapidly establishing himself as a key player for Arteta.

In fact, he produced one of his finest performances for Arsenal last weekend in the 1-0 victory away to Manchester United, his fourth start in the Premier League so far this season.

And the Spanish manager has claimed that ‘everyone can see what he can do’ now after overcoming a major obstacle in proving himself.

Arteta told the club’s official website: “I think he is responding really well to all the challenges we are putting in front of him. He had a big one when he came back from his loan spell to show what he could bring to the squad and I think everyone has seen what he can do, so I am really pleased with his performances and what he brings to the team.”

You have to imagine that Thomas Partey’s arrival helped to motivate Elneny.

Both impressed alongside one another in the win at Old Trafford, but originally Elneny was at risk by the Ghanaian coming in, given that both operate in a similar midfield role.

Signing a player of Partey’s vintage would make any player raise their game and that certainly looks the case with the 28-year-old, who cost Arsenal £7 million almost five years ago.