Mohamed Elneny has admitted he would like to sign a new contract with Arsenal and stay at the club past this summer.
The Egyptian international has rarely been utilised this season, finding himself behind the likes of Thomas Partey, Granit Xhaka and Albert Sambi Lokonga in Mikel Arteta's midfield pecking order. However, a thigh injury to Partey as well as a dip in form from Lokonga saw him rewarded with a chance to play against Chelsea last Wednesday, an opportunity that he grabbed with both hands.
The former Basel star was excellent at Stamford Bridge as the Gunners clinched a 4-2 victory before he delivered another well-rounded display during Saturday's 3-1 win against Manchester United. Still, he is into the final three months of his contract with the club and he has now admitted that he would like to sign a new deal in the coming weeks.
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When quizzed if he would be happy to stay even if not playing, Elneny told The Independent: “Of course. “I always love a challenge and give 100 per cent all the time.
"I don’t decide who plays but I keep going in training to show how good I am and to make him play me. If I don’t play I keep going until I get my chance.
“If Arsenal say ‘we want you’ I don’t think about leaving. It’s my family for six years. I love this club.”
Elneny was linked with a move away from north London during the January transfer window and he has revealed that the faith Arteta shows him, particularly to play in big games was one of the reasons he opted to stay. “He didn’t say anything," the 29-year-old added when asked if the Spaniard did anything to persuade him to stay during the winter window.
“He just trusts me and he put me in the big games. And I have to thank him for that.
“I will keep going and not think about anything else, just focus on my performances to help the team reach our goal. The contract and stuff, I’m just waiting for the club to decide what they want.
“Mikel is always really close to all the players. We always talk together and he gives us confidence all the time.
“He gives us the chance to play games and the most important thing is that he trusts his players. I’m really happy to be one of the starting XI for these two games.
"I gave everything in training to be one of the starting XI every game and I got my chance and I think I did well. Most importantly, we won the two games.”
