The Short Fuse - Mohamed Elneny transfer: News, analysis, and quotesit me, Jeffhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/51365/tsf-fav.png2016-01-15T09:39:09-05:00http://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/rss/stream/105390652016-01-15T09:39:09-05:002016-01-15T09:39:09-05:00Details emerge about events prior to Elneny's move
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<figcaption>Michael Kienzler/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>King Fut published a wonderful article today with an agent close to the Mohamed Elneny transfer that shone light on quite a few noteworthy details on his move from Basel to Arsenal.</p> <p>It feels like long time, but it was less than two weeks ago that we brought you word that <a href="http://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2016/1/5/10719246/arsenal-transfer-news-mohamed-elneny-work-permit-basel" target="_blank">a UK work permit had been granted for then-Basel midfielder Mohamed Elneny to help him secure a transfer to Arsenal</a>. The source was a completely unknown one to us at the time, King Fut, and they were the first outlets that were reporting this breakthrough in the transfer saga.</p>
<p>Well, as it turns out, not only were they first on the scene with that development, but they were 100% right, <a href="http://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2016/1/14/10767276/arsenal-transfers-mohamed-elneny-fc-basel-official-announcement" target="_blank">as Elneny's official announcement as an Arsenal arrived yesterday</a>.</p>
<p>Today, King Fut is back, and they have an <a href="http://www.kingfut.com/2016/01/15/elneny-transfer-arsenal-details/" target="_blank">extremely interesting interview with an agent who was close to the transfer surrounding the details of the move</a>. You should absolutely give it a read but, in summary, here are a few of the more noteworthy events leading up to Elneny's move:</p>
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<li><span><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal's</a> first contact and interest shown was eight months ago (!)</span></li>
<li><span>While no club names were disclosed, there was interest from Germany and France for Elneny's services</span></li>
<li><span>When it was quickly apparent that the transfer was going to take some time to complete, Arsenal sent strength and conditioning coach Sam Wilson to Elneny's location for 10 days to keep him in shape and ready for his move</span></li>
<li><span>Elneny's transfer fee, reported to be around £7 million, "is much higher than that"</span></li>
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<p>This tells us quite a few things. First, as many of you know but still needs rehashing in times like these, transfers in real life take much longer than what we assume. While the details surrounding discussions and events in the eight months weren't disclosed in the article, that it took eight months from initial contact to completed transfer should be enough info on its own that these are extremely complicated matters.</p>
<p>Also, Arsenal was confident in that whatever hang ups the transfer was going through earlier this month would resolve itself, seeing as they saw fit (pun intended) to send Sam Wilson to Elneny to exclusively train him on his own in the days before his move to London. While training with the squad itself is obviously preferable to other options, the coaching staff surely feels Wilson's ten days with Elneny were valuable, since Arsene Wenger stated earlier today that his new midfielder is available for selection this weekend at Stoke.</p>
<p>Last, that info about the reported transfer fee is beyond intriguing. Wenger's transfer MO is to keep as much info private and secret for a reason, and that info provided in the King Fut article goes a long way to explaining why. In this case, it's advantageous to both Arsenal and Basel to keep the actual fee private and let the media go along with the reported £7 million fee.</p>
<p>For starters, having the real fee out there would alert other clubs that you're willing to go to a higher price to secure the player you want. And in Basel's case, while they're not a European financial powerhouse, they're one of the most valuable clubs in Switzerland and the surrounding region. Compared to their fellow competitors and rivals, they have far more disposable income for transfers. Advertising to potential sellers that they received more money for Elneny than what's being reported opens them up to getting priced out of moves they otherwise would have considered, or completed.</p>
<p>Consider me a fan of King Fut now. They were accurate in reporting, and got a pretty good insider to the Elneny transfer to open up about details that we otherwise wouldn't have known about. Give their article a read; you'll enjoy it.</p>
https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2016/1/15/10774794/arsenal-transfer-mohamed-elneny-kingfutTravis King2016-01-14T10:13:18-05:002016-01-14T10:13:18-05:00Scouting Elneny: A report on Arsenal's new signing
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<img alt="trw ur team finally gets a #6 who can pass and control" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/BLuQs0pyJScMzsL3-Ryaky9-D10=/0x165:1998x1497/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48562615/GettyImages-488775980.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>trw ur team finally gets a #6 who can pass and control | Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Mohamed Elneny will bring precision, control and technical proficiency to the holding role, which Arsenal have desperately missed. </p> <p><a href="http://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/arsenal-transfer-rumors-and-news/2016/1/14/10767488/arsenal-transfers-wenger-mohamed-elneny-has-all-the-attributes-to-do-well-egypt" target="_blank">In his interview</a> on the signing of Mohamed Elneny, Arsène Wenger revealed three things of interest: that Arsenal were looking for a versatile midfielder, that Elneny's strengths are his technical level, vision and intelligence, and that Arsenal had been scouting Elneny for a year. In that sense, the scouting and technical team will be mindful of how Elneny has come on in the past year, as David Hynter, writing in the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2016/jan/14/arsenal-mohamed-elneny-basel">Guardian</a>, describes:</p>
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<p>At first, he had been a no-risk kind of player, routinely looking square or backwards from his position as the more defensive midfielder in a 4-2-3-1 formation. As the first receiver of the ball from the defence, however, he began to demonstrate his ability to provide a platform for the team to play with simple and urgent passes.</p>
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<p>Both the statistics from this year's Europa League group stages and the eye test confirm that description. Elneny led Basel in passes per 90 minutes and in passing percentage, while also being nifty in tackling and intercepting and covering the most ground.</p>
<p>I watched Elneny in Basel's away tie with Fiorentina, where he played as Basel's holding midfield in a double pivot, while also watching highlights of him in other matches over the past 3 seasons. Basel quickly went 1-0 down against Fiorentina, conceding a goal that wouldn't look out of place from the Banter Era, in that it was a complete mess from the centre backs and goalkeeper. Rather than panicking, Basel eased their way back into the match, led by Elneny, who provided a platform for the side, keeping the ball circulating and enabling control. He also had a man marking role on Mati Fernandez, which continued into the second half when Michael Oliver sent Gonzalo Rodriguez off for a challenge on Breel Embolo. Five minutes later, Basel were level; Elneny played a smart ball to Luca Zuffi between the lines, who set up Birkir Bjarnason. Eight minutes later, Elneny scored the winner; a loose ball came to him about 30-yards from goal, and he struck a rocket into the top left corner.</p>
<p>However, it was not his goal that was most impressive; rather, it was the way he controlled the tempo after Fiorentina went down to 10. It can sometimes be difficult to play against 10 men when they are protecting a lead, because they have no interest in attacking. The way to break a team down, then, is to create space by moving defensive players around, which is done not just by passing forward. Elneny, like <span>Mikel Arteta</span> but unlike <span>Santi Cazorla</span>, understood this, and would switch play quickly and sharply, eventually opening up the space for Basel to equalise. His play under pressure was good; he has a good first touch that enables him to step away from pressure in the mould of Arteta or Cazorla, and like the two Spaniards, Elneny makes good decisions on the ball.</p>
<p>The other aspect of his play that was impressive was his movement off the ball, and how he showed for the ball from his centre backs. This is an area that Arsenal lack, with neither Flamini nor Coquelin proficient at receiving the ball from <span>Per Mertesacker</span> or <span>Laurent Koscielny</span>, which hampers <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arsenal's</a> ability to build attacks, especially when playing a team that presses, such as <a href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Liverpool</a> last night. Elneny also takes up good defensive positions. He didn't have to do much for Basel when I saw him, but he stood in the right place, forcing when counter attack from a corner to go wide, away from goal, and also closed space well, allowing his midfield partner to press higher up the pitch as instructed. He is not the most physical player, but he is a good tackler, and, more importantly, a good reader of the game, meaning he can intercept and keep possession, rather than tackle and risk losing the ball or giving away a foul.</p>
<p>Elneny is a technically proficient player, who is intelligent and seems to understand instructions well, which speaks to his game intelligence. The hope for Arsenal is that he adapts to the physicality of the Premier League quickly, so he can give Arsenal the holding player they have desperately missed in the absence of Mikel Arteta.</p>
https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2016/1/14/10767476/mohamed-elneny-arsenal-egypt-transfer-scouting-reportAidan Gibson2016-01-14T09:53:29-05:002016-01-14T09:53:29-05:00Wenger: Elneny "has all the attributes to do well"
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<p>The Arsenal manager provided his thoughts on the signing of 23-year-old Egyptian midfielder Mohmed Elneny from FC Basel.</p> <p>Arsene Wenger has, surprisingly, been talking about the signing of Mohamed Elneny for a little while now. Although he plays most transfers close to the vest, the <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arsenal</a> manager has been relatively direct when questioned about the 23-year-old Egyptian international. Today, however, the Arsenal site has released a video interview with Wenger in which he describes his newest signing.</p>
<p>Speaking to Arsenal Player of Elneny, <a href="http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160114/wenger-why-elneny-can-be-a-success" target="_blank">Wenger said</a>:</p>
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<p>Overall I believe he will be a good addition to the squad. First he has not come in straight to a big club, he had an intermediate stay in Europe so the adaptation is less of a question mark.</p>
<p>He is 23 years old and has already got Champions League, Europa League and Swiss League experience. He is a player who is adaptable in midfield.</p>
<p>He can be box to box and be a holding midfielder so that is for us very promising. We wanted a versatile player and I wanted a player who can play defensive but can as well play to box to box.</p>
<p>His strengths are his technical level, his vision, his intelligence, his disciplined attitude and his physical attitude to compete at a high level. I think he has the physical qualities to play at the top level.</p>
<p>Where he needs to adapt is to the challenges, the force needed in the Premier League to survive. I think that could demand a little bit of adaptation. But overall I think he has all the attributes to do well.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Wenger has also said elsewhere that Elneny could feature as early as this weekend at the Britannia Stadium against <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/soccer/epl/teams/stoke-city" class="sbn-auto-link">Stoke City</a>. Good luck and welcome, Mohamed!</p>
https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/arsenal-transfer-rumors-and-news/2016/1/14/10767488/arsenal-transfers-wenger-mohamed-elneny-has-all-the-attributes-to-do-well-egyptbeardyblue2016-01-14T09:48:13-05:002016-01-14T09:48:13-05:00OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Elneny signs for Arsenal
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<figcaption>Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Those of you who won't believe it until it's on the dot com can rest easy. Welcome Mohamed!</p> <p>Although Arsene Wenger casually remarked yesterday at his post-match press conference after <a href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/" class="sbn-auto-link">Arsenal's</a> 3-3 draw at Anfield that Mohamed Elneny had <a href="http://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2016/1/13/10764646/arsenal-premier-league-elneny-transfer-finally-completed" target="_blank">successfully completed his transfer</a> from FC Basel, there was still some room for skepticism. The signing had not yet been formally, officially announced on Arsenal dot com, so there was still room for doubt and consternation.</p>
<p>Early this morning, however, the dot com finally put our memories of last-minute swoops and failed work permits to rest. Mohamed Elneny is now officially an Arsenal player!</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">It’s official! <a href="https://twitter.com/ElNennyM">@ElNennyM</a> has joined <a href="https://twitter.com/Arsenal">@Arsenal</a> <a href="https://t.co/EXB8o9Fbu6">https://t.co/EXB8o9Fbu6</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ElnenySigns?src=hash">#ElnenySigns</a> <a href="https://t.co/DWHoBL7DtB">pic.twitter.com/DWHoBL7DtB</a></p>
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/687590334633762816">January 14, 2016</a>
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<p>The 23-year-old Egyptian midfielder signs for Arsenal from FC Basel, where he had won three consecutive Swiss Super League titles. Elneny has already been <a href="http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20160114/-this-is-an-indescribable-feeling-" target="_blank">shown in training during his first official interview</a> at Arsenal, where he said:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>It is an indescribable feeling, I am really glad of course. Arsenal is one of the world’s greatest teams, and I am very keen to participate positively with my new team, God willing, and to give my best for the team and for myself.</p>
<p>Arsenal is one of those teams that everyone enjoys watching and of course I would love to play for such a great team.</p>
<p>Mr Wenger is a highly respected manager and one of the world’s best managers. It is my honour to be trained under his management.</p>
<p>It is one the biggest clubs in the world, I know everything about it and its players.</p>
<p>I would like to tell [the fans] that, although you have not seen much of me, I promise I will contribute positively with the team. I am hoping that we win the Premier League and cup this season, and the Champions League as well.</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Everyone at TSF is excited to welcome Mohamed to the club!</p>
https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2016/1/14/10767276/arsenal-transfers-mohamed-elneny-fc-basel-official-announcementbeardyblue2016-01-14T09:45:23-05:002016-01-14T09:45:23-05:00Arsenal reveal Elneny shirt number
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<figcaption>Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Arsenal revealed the shirt number for Mohamed Elneny, the 23-year-old Egyptian midfielder who signed from FC Basel.</p> <p>Mohamed Elneny, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/">Arsenal's</a> new central midfielder signing announced today from FC Basel, will wear shirt number 35:</p>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en">
<p lang="en" dir="ltr">REVEALED: <a href="https://twitter.com/ElNennyM">@ElNennyM</a>'s <a href="https://twitter.com/Arsenal">@Arsenal</a> squad number. Get the shirt: <a href="https://t.co/Wos5KzXeCL">https://t.co/Wos5KzXeCL</a> <a href="https://t.co/qm1PPyZsRM">pic.twitter.com/qm1PPyZsRM</a></p>
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) <a href="https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/687635813912428545">January 14, 2016</a>
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Long time followers of the club might remember previous wearers of 35 include Johan Djourou, <span>Francis Coquelin</span> (before his switch to his current number, 34) and...Emmanuel Frimpong. While there's no word yet on how DENCH Elneny is, I think there's a safe assumption that he'll do a bit more than aggressively kick up <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="https://liverpooloffside.sbnation.com/">Liverpool</a> for 75 minutes before getting a red card and barely appearing for the club again.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Further, his choice of script on the back of his shirt -"M. ELNENY" - carries over from how it was while at Basel. The only change is his choice of number, which was 33 at his previous club and is currently worn by our last first-team signing, Petr Cech.</p>
https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2016/1/14/10767470/arsenal-elneny-shirt-number-reveal-egypt-fc-baselbeardyblueTravis King2016-01-13T18:40:16-05:002016-01-13T18:40:16-05:00Mohamed Elneny transfer finally completed
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<img alt="Win trophy, get baby" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/zfx_FJ1gnmTHzRt_KMQ_k5p59lE=/0x61:3065x2104/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48558413/GettyImages-491973807.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>Win trophy, get baby | Michael Kienzler/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Finish line!</p> <p>As if Arsenal knew we all needed a nice little salve on the scrape that was a draw with Liverpool, official word comes from the boss himself, via the Evening Standard, <a href="http://www.standard.co.uk/sport/football/mohamed-elneny-signs-for-arsenal-club-confirm-signing-of-egyptian-midfielder-a3148361.html">that the Mohamed Elneny deal is finally complete</a>. As transfer sagas go, it wasn't the worst - there was no negotiation really, there was no drawn out drama, it just took a while for the paperwork to get done, but still, it's nice to have it over.</p>
<p>Now, though, the paperwork is done, and Elneny is an Arsenal player - it will be interesting to see if he plays a part on Sunday against Stoke City, but at this point I wouldn't rule anything out, as Arsenal are still sort of injury-crisising a bit. I think it's a bit of a stretch to say he'd start, but I can see him getting 30 second half minutes so he can get his Arsenal legs under him a bit and start getting used to how the team plays and whatnot.</p>
<p>So, that's that. Welcome, Mohamed, because I know you're reading this!</p>
https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2016/1/13/10764646/arsenal-premier-league-elneny-transfer-finally-completedpdb2016-01-13T13:48:04-05:002016-01-13T13:48:04-05:00Elneny transfer to be done "within 24 hours"
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<img alt="let's get this done because we're running out of unused Elneny pics" src="https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/7GLexTtrTtDrpZxFjUK9VJdhop0=/0x0:3536x2357/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/48556277/483544034.0.jpg" />
<figcaption>let's get this done because we're running out of unused Elneny pics | Philipp Schmidli/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>The most concrete information yet that things are almost sorted.</p> <p>Today, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.espnfc.us/story/2786027/mohamed-elneny-set-to-complete-arsenal-transfer-sources">ESPNFC.com is reporting that Mohamed Elneny is in London</a> to finalize his deal, which should be announced sometime in the next 24 hours or so. The fee is reportedly in the £7 million range, and the holdup was in the granting of a work permit apparently. He's turned his head and coughed for Arsenal's medical staff, and almost every I has been crossed and T dotted, or something, so now all we are waiting for is the thumbs up from the good folks at the UK Border Agency and the Office of Immigration Services.</p>
<p>It's amazing how long these things can take - this rumor first started happening in late December, and nobody's denied it since. Even in this technological marvel of a day and age, paperwork runs at its own pace; fortunately, that run is almost over in this case, and Elneny may be in the squad at the weekend at this rate.</p>
https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2016/1/13/10762354/arsenal-mohamed-elneny-transfer-season-deal-done-premier-leaguepdb2016-01-11T17:30:32-05:002016-01-11T17:30:32-05:00Wenger: Elneny transfer "this week"
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<figcaption>intense | Simon Hofmann/Getty Images</figcaption>
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<p>Le boss talks about how close the deal is to being done.</p> <p>Arsene Wenger and Arsenal are notoriously tight lipped about transfer business, this is not news. So when Wenger does say something, well, that's sort of news. He <a href="http://news.arseblog.com/2016/01/wenger-positive-elneny-deal-is-close/" target="_blank">was asked today about the transfer of Mohamed Elneny</a>, and he said</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I expect movement [this week], yes. I think this week it can happen, we are positive. The situation should be sorted out. There's a lot of work permit problems and special paperwork to do and the visa. We hope to finalise it this week."</p>
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<p>So basically, there's a person standing in line at the immigration office, wondering which form to grab from the rack and wondering whether he brought a pen; all that person has to do is finish filling out all those forms, get them stamped, pay the filing fee, and Bob, as they used to say, is your uncle. Here, Arsenal lackey, is a song you can listen to while you wait, which is also a song for the good folks at the immigration office.</p>
<p><iframe width="420" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/sDKpMs_GvuQ" frameborder="0"></iframe></p>
https://theshortfuse.sbnation.com/2016/1/11/10751124/arsenal-premier-league-transfer-window-elneny-basel-work-permitpdb