Arsenal sign Mohamed Elneny: Seven things you didn’t know about the Egyptian

Mark Bryans

16:23 14/01/2016

1 Full name

While it is unlikely you would get it printed on your replica shirt, Elneny’s full name is Mohamed Naser Elsayed Elneny.

2 Shirt number

And, talking of shirts, he will not be able to retain the number 33 jersey he sported for Basle as that is the squad number of goalkeeper Petr Cech at the Emirates Stadium.

3 International debut
Elneny’s first international goal for Egypt came on English soil at Leyton Orient’s Matchroom Stadium – opening the scoring in the 2-2 friendly draw with Jamaica in June 2014.

4 Olympic star
The 23-year-old had already experienced football in the capital, having played in all four of Egypt’s matches at the London 2012 Olympic Games as Hany Ramzy’s side reached the quarter-finals before losing 3-0 to Japan.

5 English opposition
As well as having played in England, Elneny will be no stranger to Premier League clubs. While at Basle he faced Tottenham, Liverpool and Chelsea in European competition during the last three years. Elneny particularly shone in a 2-2 Europa League draw with Spurs in 2013, a quarter-final tie which the Swiss outfit won on penalties.

6 Egyptian introduction
Having been deemed not good enough for El Ahly, where he had played at several youth levels, Elneny’s introduction to Egyptian league football came when he joined Cairo -based side Arab Contractors – known locally as El Mokawloon.

7 Title pedigree
Despite being only 23, Elneny would bring more championship-winning experience to the Arsenal squad having lifted three successive Swiss Super League titles at Basle.