It goes all the way back to the start of 2023 when Elneny picked up an ACL injury during a FA Cup game against Oxford in January.
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It has been a difficult year for Mohamed Elneny, as the Arsenal midfielder spent most of it out injured. It goes all the way back to the start of 2023 when Elneny picked up an ACL injury during a FA Cup game against Oxford in January. That injury ruled out the Egypt international for several months. After a long recovery period, he finally returned to action a few weeks ago in a Carabao Cup match against Brentford.
Mohamed Elneny followed it up by also making a return for the Egypt national team recently. Now back fit, Elneny has opened up about the difficult period on the sidelines. “It was tough for me. It’s the first time I’ve had this experience with a long injury. Usually I don’t get so many injuries but last year I had two big injuries,” he told Arsenal.com.
He added: “But honestly, it’s helped me a lot to make me stronger. I use the gym more than I did before. It’s opened up new things in my life as well, improving my life skills. I love football so much and I missed it all the time, like when I went to the stadium to support my team-mates. To be in the stadium was tough. But I love to be around them and I went to support them in every game. It was tough.”
Despite the setback, the midfielder stayed close with the Arsenal group and motivated his teammates before they stepped on to the pitch. Asked about being part of the group, he said, “Yes, 100 per cent. It was important for me because I wanted to give everyone positive energy. They know I have this in myself and that I can make everyone else feel positive. I always tried to talk to the players when they arrived before the game, to give them motivation and make them feel good before the game. When we win, I win as well. I really love to be around the boys, to help them, to feel like a part of this team.”
Elneny’s long wait on the sidelines came to an end during the final days of September. He came on as a substitute to help Arsenal defeat Brentford in the Carabao Cup. It was a great moment for the midfielder, who narrated the turn of events before making his comeback against Brentford. “For me it was really good, because I was waiting for this moment for nine months,” the Egypt international started.
He added: “And then Mikel spoke to me the day before the game, he said ‘Mo I want to use you in this game, you have to be prepared.’ I said ‘yeah, I’m ready and have been waiting for this opportunity to come’. I had been working so hard for this one, and then when I came on, I saw Mikel, the staff and players, the fans – everyone was happy for me to come back. Of course when you feel people around love you, you feel special. When I came on, I felt like I was back to the life.”
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