Tim Sherwood and Ian Wright were critical of Mohamed Elneny’s defending during Arsenal’s win against Leicester on Sunday, as they told Premier League Productions (28/02/21 at 12:55 pm).
Former Premier League boss Sherwood stated that goalscorer Youri Tielemans ‘couldn’t believe his luck’ when Elneny allowed him to burst into the penalty area and slot home after only six minutes.
At the time, a number of Arsenal fans would have feared the worst but Elneny’s blushes were saved as Mikel Arteta’s men fought back and secured a deserved victory.
But Wright was critical at how ‘slack’ Elneny was and why he didn’t go across to stop the Leicester man’s run into the penalty area.
“Slack marking,” said Wright. “Like you say, conceding in the first six minutes. Like they have in the last three games. It’s just slack play. Poor play.
“Elneny has to come across (to Tielemans as he’s running into the penalty area). Tielemans goes through and you have to give him credit for what he’s done because he’s in total control with what he’s doing.
“(But) he (Elneny) has to come across. Jamie Vardy is taken (marked in the penalty area). He can see that. Silly mistake and poor concentration.”
Sherwood: “He cannot believe his luck that Elneny or anyone in an Arsenal shirt hasn’t come across.”
That midfield area is still a bit of a concern for Arsenal and an area that will need addressing in the summer.
Thomas Partey, who was on the bench at the King Power, is the obvious number six for Arsenal to build their team around.
But whilst Granit Xhaka has produced his best performances at the Emirates under Arteta, he is always one game away from going from hero to zero in North London, such is his relationship with the fans.
Then there’s Elneny, who was out on loan last season and has been in and out of the starting XI of late, whilst a certain Matteo Guendouzi is out in Germany and hoping for a return.
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