After seven games in the CL last year, he was the player who had covered the most ground with 85 km. That averages 12,41 km each match, insane. Certainly a fit guy, just hope that's not all he is.

The funny thing is, that Wenger has said himself it was similar stats that made him sign Flamini the first time. True story. 🙂

Post Southampton when asked about this cat, Wenger said it is not true. However, the question was phrased saying there are rumors we have agreed terms. Also, Wenger then added 'not at the moment'. Seems to be something in this I'd say; not true that we have agreed terms, but the 'not at the moment' comment seems to indicate, to me, that we are indeed in for him. This cat better be good!

Good to have some insane fitness in the midfield. Get Pato n all

Lets get this guy + Pato. I'd consider it a very nice window.

Please let this guy be good.

😆 Yeah, I'm with Shady here. Since the indications are pretty strong we will sign this guy, 'please, let this guy be good' is closer to how I feel right now.

Pato would be a very smart move on our part too. However, signing two players in a window Wenger doesn't even think should exist is probably cheating in the book of Weng.

Signing Pato will be a bonus, I' have not seen any serious links to him.

Looks like this might happen. http://www.kingfut.com/2015/12/27/el-nenny-arsenal-contract/

A few comments from twitter and reddit, interesting transfer. I cant see him making a big impact , he will probably just make up the numbers till the others are fit. 

[size=xx-small][font=Arial, sans-serif][–]Hebdo94 [score hidden] 26 minutes ago [/font][/size]

[size=x-small][font=verdana, arial, helvetica, sans-serif][size=x-small]Basel supporter here. You'll find plenty of videos on youtube. However I'd say the most amazing thing about Elneny is that he runs like a horse. Not exceptionally fast but his endurance is amazing. He's the one you see chasing opponents all over the pitch 90 minutes straight. Also since joining us he is one of the players (imo) who has improved the most and he seems to be very adaptive. Also he's long distance shots have become very dangerous. He definitely will be able to help you fill in the gaps.[/size][/font][/size]

[font=Arial, sans-serif]Maher Mezahi ‏ [/font][size=x-small][font=PT Serif][font=PT Serif]@[/font]Culann Davies[/font][/size][size=x-small][font=PT Serif] Retweeted [/font][/size][size=small][font=PT Serif] [/font][/size]
Lots of experience for someone his age, which is a bonus. Super encouraging that he's starting to score goals though. Won't hit a lot of hollywood passes or make lung-bursting runs into the box. But he's smart with his positioning/passing. Covers lots of ground low-key, but he won't catch the eye. Not particularly strong or fast or flashy.Hear a lot of players dubbed a 'midfield dynamo' but he really personifies that. Gets the ball, gives it. Short distribution.

Not sure what to think. Some Basel fans claim he's got a great passing range and builds the game from the back. Others say he keeps it simple and mostly make short passes. The one thing they all seem to agree on is his workrate.

We'll see what he's made of soon enough, I guess. Like Shady I hope he's good. It would be irresponsible to get this signing wrong considering all the midfield talent on the market right now.

You can tell he knows what he's doing on the ball just from those video clips. Moves his feet well. Good strike on him too.

I suppose its pretty unlike Wenger to get it wrong with midfielders. Especially when they are past their main development years. Don't remember too many big errors in midfield recently. Then again he used to be great at signing forwards too but now we have Welbeck and Sanogo.

I don't doubt his quality, but how quickly we can and will use him.

Qwiss! wrote:

I suppose its pretty unlike Wenger to get it wrong with midfielders. Especially when they are past their main development years. Don't remember too many big errors in midfield recently. Then again he used to be great at signing forwards too but now we have Welbeck and Sanogo.

I think a certain Kim K proves otherwise Qwiss.

Don't think Elneny fits in the Kim K bracket. Different profile/circumstance altogether.

Qs, Welbeck is not a bad signing. And I think he will be pivotal for us this season, we need him back ASAP.

Can't expect anything from Welbeck until next season unfortunately. Too bad, because we could have used him right about now.

Welcome Elno. Win us the league fella. #nopressure

Well that's interesting. Never heard the name before today, saw the early vids (not the Basel ones).
though too small to be another coq, and seems to play box to box (and from whatever I saw defensively I can't say I expect a great tackler) - he could slot in instead of no.20 rather easily. Both him and Ramsey - that's some mileage and energy (could have used that yesterday).

Shooting technic looks unique - something Brazilian about it. He'll surely be the meanest long range shooter in the team, and amazingly he looks  as ambidextrous as Santi - the power he has on them is amazing, though. Hard to tell much else, as opposition seemed poor in most vids. 

Welcome to Arsenal, kiddo! sure hope you're good, and (if so) that you are (heh) here for the long run 🙂 .

When did we have an Egyptian dude play for us? wasn't Rami Sha'aban half Egyptian half Rex or something?

yuv wrote:

though too small to be another coq

He's allegedly taller than Coquelin. Coq's not a big guy.

This bloke is just shy of six foot. He's plenty big enough. Will be excited to see him play for us.

yuv wrote:

though too small to be another coq

It's not the size that matters.

Anyway, much rather someone unknown like this than someone safe that we all know is mediocre, ala Milner.

I read that his dream is to play for Barcelona. Great.  :doh:

Well if he gets to the level where they want to buy him he'd be doing well for us

Really looks like another gem in the making.

Clrnc wrote:

Really looks like another gem in the making.

I blame wenger for this statement... 🙂

Klaus wrote:
yuv wrote:

though too small to be another coq

He's allegedly taller than Coquelin. Coq's not a big guy.

But it's not how tall one is, is it? you'd be saying the same about Zelalem? it's about if you could be brushed aside by anyone, or you're the imposing figure physically dominating the others. Compare Eleny with Coq - can't see him do anything remotely close to that.

But my point was actually that despite that seemingly big differences, I'm not sure he won't make it in the same slot.

Looks adept at getting his body in between the man and the ball.

FC Basel seem to have had a fair few talented players who've made the step up to bigger leagues like Shaqiri, Xhaka, Salah

Jed wrote:

I read that his dream is to play for Barcelona. Great.  :doh:

😆  He should fit right in with our bunch of pussies then.

Cannon wrote:
Clrnc wrote:

Really looks like another gem in the making.

I blame wenger for this statement... 🙂

Now it's up on BBC

Arsenal are in talks with FC Basel about signing central midfielder Mohamed Elneny.

http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/35187793

I'm excited, this means no more Flamini-Arteta, so that's good. And it's about the last thing I still trust Wenger to do right, I don't trust him in team-selection, tactics, substitutions, motivation etc...this is the last thing he has. So...hope to see the guy in the team as fast as possible

Glad we're getting this done early, hopefully he can make an instant impact.

Are we really expecting this guy to start playing week in week out? Its infuriating that we didnt just sign this guy in the summer if Wenger rated him.