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Arsenal’s longest-serving player, Mohamed Elneny, broke down in ‘tears’ after Gunners handed him new deal in offseason.
When Arsenal extended his contract by one year earlier this year, Mohamed Elneny admitted he sobbed openly.
Following surgery on a knee injury in January, the Egyptian midfielder missed nine months of action.
Elneny, the member of the current Arsenal team with the longest tenure, once thought his time in north London was finished because his contract was set to expire at the conclusion of the 2022–2023 season.
However, the Gunners shocked him with a new contract earlier in February, which left the 31-year-old star inconsolable.
Speaking to Evening Standard, Elneny said, “It was one of the happiest days in my life. The way they spoke to me, the way the entire club was happy about this decision, they made me cry that day. Arsenal football club, they know I love them 100 per cent, so much. They know I don’t want to leave. I want to stay and finish my career there, 100 per cent.
“I was injured and my contract was finishing and I could not play anymore last season, and they came straight away after I got injured, the next day and said: ‘Mo, what sort of contract will it have to be? We love you here and we and we want you to stay’. Really, this club is great.”
The former FC Basel player has played in only one game for his club since returning from injury, last month’s Carabao Cup encounter against Brentford.
On Saturday, Mikel Arteta’s team will play Chelsea in the Premier League.