by Tony Attwood
As we have seen of late, English journalists don’t have a clue what is going on in football. As a result they make things up. They could do some research, but they don’t. Instead they just read what each other writes, take that as the normal, and write some more about that.
Then, eventually, after Untold Arsenal and a few other websites, point out how far they are from reality, they sometimes pick up our point, and just carry on as if they were there all the time.
So it finally came to pass that after ignoring the fact that Elneny played in a pre-season friendly and the Community Shield match, the word has come out.
Although perhaps it was suitable that he shouldn’t be talked about, because his new approach to the concept of the “invisible wall” made him, well, sort of, invisible. At least invisible to journalists in between their drinks. (Although I watched the Fulham game in the pub with a pint and I still saw him).
Anyway, finally he has been found with this snippet from the Guardian. Rather late in the day, but at least they got there in the end.
“Elneny looks ready for top flight”
That august newspaper had, in common with most of the media, not mentioned the player before – not after the friendly, community shield or the review of the Fulham game. And yet suddenly from sullen silence they emerge with the notion that he “looks ready”.
“After a year playing in Turkey with Besiktas, Mohamed Elneny has returned to Arsenal looking like a more mature player and quickly settled back into their midfield,” Will Unwin says.
Fair enough, but then he pulls that journalistic trick of suggesting well of course others may have not noticed him, but he did, and his newspaper did, because oh yes we are clever. Not like the dolts at the Sun and the Mail. The piece continues (and I promise I have not cut anything)…
“Many would have expected the Egyptian to leave London this summer but he is back and in Mikel Arteta’s plans.”
“Many”?????? “Many”???????????????????
Every single newspaper, TV and radio commentator INCLUDING the Guardian. We noticed that because Untold contributors read the media – so don’t try to pretend to us that the Guardian is a cut above the rest when it comes to Arsenal.
It continues a little later saying, “Elneny quietly went about his job against a Fulham midfield eager to make an impact. Elneny kept his distribution simple, shielded the defence throughout and showed an impressive workrate. Arteta will be hopeful the midfielder can maintain such form, meaning he can use his available funds to sign someone for a more pressing position. As someone who played in his position, Arteta could be the man to get the best out of a player who looks ready to consistently thrive in the Premier League.”
Written in the language of honesty, that paragraph would have read, “Copying all other commentators we have ignored Elneny, completely forgetting him, and if we did notice him at Wembley we stupidly assumed he was being put on parade for a transfer. Turning up against Fulham took me, and all other mainstream commentators by surprise, so I am now going to cover my back by suggesting I have been following this all along and really knew what was happening.”
Now of course I am just an amateur commentator who occasionally stumbles on a truth, and my notion that he is being used as an invisible wall type player might well come back to haunt me. But it is that idea that has drawn me to watching Elneny as closely as TV permits during these recent games.
Incidentally, the “invisible wall” notion however is completely associated with Gilberto, and indeed he continues this theme with his regular podcast: The Invisible Wall Show But this is not a mindless footie chat with mates, this is serious stuff – the most recent episode is about mental health.
Anyway, I am not saying Elneny is the new Gilberto, rather I am simply saying that from the moment he returned to Arsenal from his loan spell, it has been clear to me, just watching on TV and scribbling my notes on Untold, that the player was being used in a specific way, a way we have not really seen since the classic Wenger days.
Of course there is no problem with everyone ignoring my thoughts and all the media going their own way, but it is fun to watch them crawl back without ever admitting that they had missed anything.
But if I am right and Arteta has discovered a jewel in Elneny (and yes we’ve been running positive pieces about him since he was first signed), he might well have just saved the club a fortune, and might be delivering a different tactical style for us in the season ahead.
And yes, maybe it won’t work out. But at least we noticed, which is more than can be said for the mainstream media.
You might also enjoy, from our archives
Extremely happy Auba has put pen to paper at last!
Get in there.
So happy.
Now we can sing and cheer and dream of the unbelievable. We have a captain that has stayed and not been sold!! It shows a change in the tide of fortune for Arsenal.
Those who claimed Arsenal might go the whole season undefeated could be right. We have been so good, so far!
Now it’s just a matter of consistency.
COYG.
Well played Mo as the saying goes. Great to hear debate amongst the fans as to Whether he or Granit were the better in midfield against Fulham. I admit I was one of those who had all but forgotten him whilst he was in Turkey so really pleased for him to come back and perform as he has done so far. Auba’s deal announced today as well and I can not think of an Arsenal player I am unhappy with at the moment.