Arsenal

Arsenal

Premier League • England

Mohamed Elneny injury forces Arsenal to look at changing direction in late transfer move

Mohamed Elneny Arsenal August 2022

Arsenal could be set to make a last-ditch dive into the transfer market after Mohamed Elneny suffered a serious injury in the win over Fulham.

Elneny was making his first appearance of the season after only making the bench to date. And he completed the 90 minutes at The Emirates, but it has since been reported that the midfielder picked up a “significant injury”.

The Athletic claim Elneny could be missing for a significant period of time. And with Thomas Partey also nursing thigh strain, Mikel Arteta’s options are few and far between.

Elneny is understood to have picked up a hamstring problem, as per the Evening Standard. And the Egyptian is now being assessed by the club’s medical department with Arteta awaiting news.

Arteta’s other deep-lying options, Granit Xhaka and Albert Sambi Lokonga, are yet to appear this season.

It will be a big concern for Arteta, who will not want to be left short between now and the next transfer window. So much so that the source say Elneny’s injury could have “implications” in the transfer window.

The Gunners were believed to be focused on adding a new wide player. But now Arsenal “could pivot” and switch  their focus to a central midfielder.

Edu transfer hint

Wolves star Pedro Neto was reported to be Arteta’s prime target. But Wolves’ reluctance to sell and the Portuguese star’s high price tag was making a deal almost impossible. While Fabrizio Romano confirmed Arsenal had explored a deal for Shakhtar Donetsk winger Mykhaylo Mudryk.

Contact was made with the player’s representatives last week, but nothing has happened as yet.

Meanwhile, Arsenal technical director Edu has hinted there could be some new arrivals before Thursday’s 11pm deadline.

Football.london, via Prec Brown on Twitter, report that Edu spoke to fans outside London Colney on Monday and replied “hopefully” when asked if there would be any new signings in the coming days.

Edu has spent around £120m on five players so far this summer, but another incoming could be on the agenda.