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.

I have read that he has really gone up a level this season. However, I agree, it's infuriating that we couldn't find a player across the continent who wouldn't be better than Flamini in the summer.

Quincy Abeyie wrote:
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.

This is what all the white boys say...

Rohit wrote:

I have read that he has really gone up a level this season. However, I agree, it's infuriating that we couldn't find a player across the continent who wouldn't be better than Flamini in the summer.

Well we have coq, arteta, jack and then flamini. He's fourth choice I don't think Wenger expected him to play.

Even if we do complete this signing we would need another DMC in the summer assuming Flamini and Arteta leave. Having said that, whilst I do not think Arteta has a future with us, I would not be against offering Flamini a one year extension.

I think he is a good squad player but becomes limited if he has to play every game as we saw on Sat. The odd game here and there I think he would be more than adequate for us (as we saw v Man City).

it ticks a few typical wenger boxes - cheap, unknown, can be signed quicky, and has some growth potential. still need to be looking at getting a top midfielder in the summer

He also isn't cup tied.

At the very least this guy has to be a clear step up from Arteta/Flamini. Would be a pointless signing otherwise.

Realistic hope is that he'll be a decent cover for Coquelin, until he's back in the team. Anything better will be a bonus.

However, we obviously should have signed the Coq cover in the summer, because we all knew Flam/Tet were already finished.

Qwiss! wrote:

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.

Tbh I think this is similar to the Gabriel signing. He'll probably offer adequate cover till the summer but won't be a major contribution till next season seeing as he'll be spending the next six months acclimatising to the league, the country and his colleagues.

I don't think Wenger's delayed this signing, he's brought it forward from summer because I don't think he expected Arteta, Wilshere, Coquelin and Cazorla to all be out at the same time.

innervisionscm wrote:

That compilation was thoroughly underwhelming. 

I wouldn't go by youtube highlights.

Pascal Cygan looked like a world beater on youtube.

Mirth wrote:

I don't think Wenger's delayed this signing, he's brought it forward from summer because I don't think he expected Arteta, Wilshere, Coquelin and Cazorla to all be out at the same time.

I think so too. It feels similar to when we signed Monreal a few years back.

Looks like Gabby Paulista in midfield...?

If he comes in in Jan and doesn't start immediately for us I will be surprised.

Mirth wrote:
Qwiss! wrote:

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.

Tbh I think this is similar to the Gabriel signing. He'll probably offer adequate cover till the summer but won't be a major contribution till next season seeing as he'll be spending the next six months acclimatising to the league, the country and his colleagues.

I don't think Wenger's delayed this signing, he's brought it forward from summer because I don't think he expected Arteta, Wilshere, Coquelin and Cazorla to all be out at the same time.

Well the Gabriel signing was 6 months too late too. And hes still not quite there yet.

Hmmm.
Well I guess this isn't a signing for the sake of making one so this guy may have something about him.

Well he looks like a back up, we can probably nab him for 5M and 20-25k per week.

This guy could well turn out to be a shrewd purchase, I don't doubt that. What bothers me is that we are top of the league, the transfer window now opens and we are in with a proper chance of winning the league with the right reinforcements, and Wenger goes for yet another gamble on an unproven player. This isn't 'going all out to try to win the league', and that infuriates me. This cat better not be the only business we do in January!

to me its crystal clear this is our only january buy. if we didnt have so many injuries he would buy no-one. he's never been a fan of the winter window, so if he felt nobody could improve the squad in the summer, there's no chance he's suddenly going to splurge now. ive been at peace with a dead january since the end of the summer tbh