Arsenal announce UCL squad, Elneny included
Arsenal’s solitary signing of the January transfer window Mohamed Elneny has been added to the UEFA Champions League squad ahead of their round of 16 tie against Barcelona.
After squeezing through the group stages courtesy of some Olivier Giroud heroics in Greece, Arsenal were allowed to adjust their Champions League squad to allow for January transfers. As Mathieu Debuchy, very much out of form and favour, was sent on loan to Bordeaux, Elneny was brought in.
The Egyptian was received with much excitement by Arsenal fans and impressed adequately in the FA Cup tie against Burnley, where he showed his dynamism, aggression and willingness to take a long shot.
Such qualities will perhaps be required against Barcelona’s fierce trio of Lionel Messi, Luis Suarez and Neymar, and as a pair with Francis Coquelin, the potential for a real shield in front of the back four is there. With Jack Wilshere still out and Mathieu Flamini out of form, Elneny could prove to be a shrewd acquisition.
The rest of the squad, as reported by King Fut, has remained much the same, as Arsene Wenger continues to show faith in youngsters such as Jeff Reine-Adelaide and Alex Iwobi.
Goalkeepers:
Petr Cech, David Ospina, Matt Macey.
Defenders:
Kieran Gibbs, Per Mertesacker, Gabriel, Laurent Koscielny, Nacho Monreal, Calum Chambers, Hector Bellerin
Midfielders:
Tomas Rosicky, Jack Wilshere, Mikel Arteta, Mesut Ozil, Aaron Ramsey, Santi Cazorla, Mathieu Flamini, Francis Coquelin, Jeff Reine-Adelaide, Mohamed Elneny.
Forwards:
Joel Campbell, Olivier Giroud, Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Danny Welbeck, Theo Walcott, Alex Iwobi.
Arsenal are set to face the five-time Champions League winners at the Emirates on 23rd February, and at the Nou Camp on 16th March.