Mohamed Elneny showed just why Mikel Arteta has so much faith in him during Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Manchester United.
The Gunners secured a first victory at Old Trafford since 2006 thanks to Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s second-half penalty on Sunday.
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Elneny was a surprise selection in Arteta’s starting XI as Dani Ceballos and Granit Xhaka dropped to the bench following last weekend’s home defeat to Leicester.
And the Egypt midfielder, whose Arsenal career looked over after spending the 2019/20 season on loan at Besiktas, justified Arteta’s backing.
In injury-time, Elneny won Arsenal a throw-in after he had aggressively pressed Manchester United back from his side’s box.
Sky Sports
Sky Sports
He forced Victor Lindelof to pass to Luke Shaw, who was forced further back, before returning the ball back to his teammate.
Lindelof, with no other option, then tried to dribble past Elneny only to concede an unnecessary throw-in.
Sky Sports
Sky Sports
Asked if that was the commitment he wanted to see from his players, Arteta said: “Absolutely. What Mo transmits to the team especially.
“He has this energy as a person, he creates that atmosphere. I thought we needed that energy and positive feeling today. I thought he was tremendous.”
Arteta continued: “We know his qualities as a person and what he brings to the squad.
“I like players that have zero ego that play for the team and want to contribute whether it’s one minute or 96 minutes, or just by being there and contributing to our culture.
“Mo is a person who is admired amongst everyone at the football club and I think now is respected as a footballer, something that I always believed he had to be.”
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