Former Gunner wins MOTM in 1st match with new club | OneFootball

Former Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny made a strong debut for new club Al-Jazira at the weeknd, winning their Man of the Match award.

Mohamed Elneny with his Man of the Match award with Al-Jazira (Photo via Al Jazira Club on Twitter)

Following his summer move, Mohamed Elneny got his first chance on the pitch for UAE side Al Jazira on Sunday, making the starting lineup for their UAE League Cup match against Al Bataeh.

Elneny ended up completing the full 90 minutes of the 3-1 win, completing 93% of his passes, creating three chances, and making three interceptions and two tackles.

The club were evidently impressed with their new signing, as they named him Man of the Match.

Arsenal’s Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny and team mates warm up prior to a UEFA Champions League group B football match between PSV Eindhoven and Arsenal FC at the Philips Stadium in Eindhoven, on December 12, 2023. (Photo by KENZO TRIBOUILLARD/AFP via Getty Images)

After eight years at Arsenal, Elneny was one of a few senior players released by the club this summer. As such, he was available for a free transfer.

Elneny made just six appearances for Arsenal in 2023/24, including just one start, for a total of 96 minutes. He even dropped out of the Egypt national team, having previously been a regular, though he did play for their Olympic team this summer.

Though Elneny was popular with the fans and with the squad behind the scenes, it was clear he needed to move on to have a more regular impact on the pitch.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Mohamed Elneny and Jakub Kiwior of Arsenal celebrate the team’s victory at full-time following the Premier League match between Arsenal FC and Sheffield United at Emirates Stadium on October 28, 2023. (Photo by Catherine Ivill/Getty Images)

Al Jazira compete in the UAE Pro League, finishing mid-table in eighth in 2023/24. They kick off their new league campaign on August 24th, and they’ll play the second leg of their league cup tie against Al Bataeh on September 8th.