Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny has extended his contract with the Premier League leaders through to June 2024.

Elneny is the longest-serving player in Arsenal's squad and has made 155 appearances for the Gunners across all competitions since his 2016 arrival from Basel.

The 30-year-old is currently sidelined after being forced to undergo surgery on a knee injury in January, but he has made five Premier League appearances this season and is regarded as an experienced leader in Mikel Arteta's squad.

Elneny's contract was previously due to expire at the end of the season, but the Egypt international is set to stay in north London until at least the end of next campaign following his renewal.

"I'm so happy, I love this club and our supporters so much and I'll give everything to help us be the best we can be, every day I'm here," Elneny told the club's website.

"It makes me so proud to have represented this amazing club since 2016. 

"The spirit and togetherness we have in our squad right now is so positive, and I'm so happy I have extended my contract."

Elneny's injury provoked Arsenal to dip into the transfer market to acquire fellow midfielder Jorginho from Chelsea in January, as they push for a first Premier League title since 2004.

Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny is set for an indefinite layoff after undergoing surgery for a knee injury, as the club reportedly close in on the signing of Jorginho from Chelsea.

Egypt international Elneny, who has made five Premier League appearances this season for Mikel Arteta's side, suffered the problem in training.

Though he has undergone a successful operation, the 30-year-old will spend a significant period on the sidelines as he begins his road to recovery.

"Following an injury sustained in a recent training session, subsequent assessments have confirmed that Mohamed Elneny has a significant injury to his right knee," read a club statement.

"Mo has had successful surgery in London and will be ruled out for an extended period of time.

"A more detailed timescale will be established once the early stages of rehabilitation have been completed."

The Gunners have also confirmed a loan exit for Marquinhos.

The Brazilian teenager, who has made six appearances this term, has joined Championship outfit Norwich City until the end of the season.

Eddie Nketiah scored twice as Arsenal set up a mouthwatering FA Cup fourth-round tie against Manchester City by beating Oxford United 3-0.

The Premier League leaders failed to register a shot on target in the first half at the Kassam Stadium on Monday after Mikel Arteta made seven changes to his starting line-up.

They demonstrated their superior quality after the break, though, Mohamed Elneny opening the scoring before in-form Nketiah struck twice in the space of six minutes.

Fabio Vieira provided two assists in a ruthless second-half display from Arsenal, but an injury sustained by  Bukayo Saka will be a concern for Arteta ahead of their North London derby against Tottenham on Sunday.

League One side Oxford had not allowed the Gunners to settle in a frantic first half that was devoid of quality.

Arsenal wanted a penalty when Albert Sambi Lokonga's shot appeared to strike Elliott Moore's arm, before Nketiah poked over the crossbar from close range.

Matt Turner came out to deny striker Matty Taylor early in the second half after the Oxford striker got in behind a static Gunners defence.

Lewis Bate then blocked Saka's goal-bound strike after some neat footwork from the England winger in the penalty area as Arsenal showed more urgency.

Mikel Arteta introduced Granit Xhaka and Oleksandr Zinchenko just after the hour mark, and Elneny opened the scoring moments later, heading in Vieira's whipped free-kick from six yards out.

Nketiah raced onto an excellent pass from Vieira and rounded Edward McGinty to double the lead and finished clinically again after Gabriel Martinelli set him up to put Arsenal out of sight.

Mohamed Elneny has revealed Mikel Arteta's decision to axe captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang last season left the squad "scared".

The Gunners parted ways with the Gabon international in January, offloading the forward to Barcelona after disciplinary issues at Emirates Stadium, but have since seen the striker return to the Premier League with Chelsea.

Arteta's side will come face to face with Aubameyang this weekend as they look to maintain their spot at the summit of the table against the Blues and will have no doubts about the threat he poses.

Aubameyang scored 92 goals during his four-year spell in north London, lifting the FA Cup in 2019-20, and Arteta's decision to move away from the forward at the start of the year was a controversial one.

That choice has been proven to be justified though, with Arsenal flying this season.

Asked whether that was the moment where Arteta imposed his authority upon the squad, Elneny said: "A hundred per cent. Now everyone looked at themselves because Mikel did that to the captain of the team, so what is he going to do with another player?

"This showed that now we can't play around, now we have to be calm with the team. The way the team is going, we have to stick together, not do something different.

"We agree with what Mikel decided because he is our boss, and we just have to agree what his vision is for us. I think it unified us because now everyone was scared. Everyone is scared with their position because this happened to Aubameyang.

"We don't allow big egos. This is the dressing room we have now. Everyone loves each other and everyone works for each other. This is what actually makes our squad really strong, because we don't have egos in the team.

"Of course if anyone is not the captain of the team, and does a small mistake, they are going to have the same problem, and no one needs that problem."

Aubameyang's reunion with Arsenal will grab the attention in Sunday's London derby, and the forward stands as one of many high-earning players offloaded during the Arteta and Edu era at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners have also moved on Mesut Ozil and club-record signing Nicolas Pepe, among others, and Elneny feels Aubameyang is no different despite previously captaining the side.

"Aubameyang was one of our players and now he decided to go to a different team. We must focus on ourselves and look to win the game," Elneny said.

"We know what we are going there to do, because now we are looking for the title. Of course, we are going to push, and we are going to give everything to win the game."

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has detailed the club's injury issues, with Thomas Partey out for "weeks" and Mohamed Elneny set to be absent for "months".

The Gunners have enjoyed a perfect start to the Premier League campaign with five wins from five but face a stern test at Old Trafford on Sunday against Manchester United, who have bounced back from a slow start to register three consecutive wins.

Midfield injuries have become an issue for Arteta, though, forced to make changes in back-to-back matches in the middle of the park with Albert Sambi Lokonga deputising as Granit Xhaka's partner in midweek.

Arsenal have further problems, too, with Oleksandr Zinchenko missing the last two games and yet to train with the team, while Aaron Ramsdale and Martin Odegaard will be assessed on Saturday.

"Ramsdale and Odegaard have been assessed and we will see more tomorrow. Hopefully they'll be available to train with the team," Arteta said in Friday's press conference.

"Alex [Zinchenko] missed two games and has not been able to train with team yet. For Mo [Elneny], we are talking months. 

"With Thomas [Partey], we are hopefully talking weeks and even shorter than that. We have tried to manage him. A lot has happened since he's joined.

"We are trying the possible way to find reasons for that. Unfortunately, his body and mind are too difficult to try to put finger on to identify one factor. Attitude is there. He's really disappointed and wants to get back."

Arsenal attempted to make a late move to sign Douglas Luiz from Aston Villa but were unable to thrash out a deadline day deal, with Arteta admitting he may look towards the academy for players to make the jump.

"We had to react. We tried, but we have to bring in the right player for the team and for the club but didn't manage to do that," he added.

"It's the team we have. For me, it's the best squad and team I have available. There is nothing else we can do. We have an academy as well that we have to use, and we will try to do that the best possible way."

Arsenal midfielder Mohamed Elneny has signed a new deal with the Premier League club.

The Egypt international signed for the Gunners in January 2016 from FC Basel, making his debut in an FA Cup win over Burnley.

He has since played 147 games for the Gunners, scoring five goals as well as recording 10 assists. Arsenal have not confirmed the length of Elneny's contract.

Speaking to Arsenal Media, Elneny said: "I love this club and I feel like part of this family.

"I want to continue at this amazing club and amazing family and I'm very happy and very excited for the future."

Arsenal narrowly missed out on fourth place and Champions League qualification on the final day of the Premier League season, and Elneny was in and out of the side during the campaign, partly due to his participation in Egypt's run to the Africa Cup of Nations final.

The 29-year-old played 14 league games, eight of which were starts, and no Arsenal player had a better passing accuracy percentage in league games than his 93.45.

Elneny spent time away from Arsenal in the 2019-20 season, when he joined Besiktas on loan, and his contract was due to expire at the end of June.

Mikel Arteta said on Sunday following Arsenal's 5-1 win over Everton that the futures of Elneny, Eddie Nketiah and Alexandre Lacazette (the other two players out of contract) had been decided, and it was simply a matter of communicating the news.

"Mo is a really important part of the team," Arteta told Arsenal Media following confirmation of Elneny's new deal. 

"He brings endless energy, enthusiasm and commitment to the team and is loved by everyone.

"He's an important player for us on and off the pitch, a real role model to our younger players and I'm delighted he's staying."

Mikel Arteta never doubted he had what it would take to lead Arsenal after the Arsene Wenger dynasty – even if he was kept waiting for the top job.

The Arsenal manager paused only briefly to consider the ramifications of taking over a team built by Wenger and developed in the Frenchman's fashion.

It was Arteta's fearlessness regarding the possibility of failure that persuaded him to take up the Gunners post in December 2019, a full 18 months after he came close to being Wenger's immediate successor.

The Unai Emery era separated his Arsenal reign from Wenger's 22-year spell in charge, and Arteta has gradually built up the north London giants to the point where a return to the Champions League is tantalisingly close. A long-term plan to revive the glory years is showing progress.

Asked whether the prospect of having to shape a club previously led for so long by one man crossed his mind, Arteta said: "It did, but it was tiny in comparison with the excitement and the opportunity that I saw to join this club, and try to do what we all want to do, which was to take the club where Arsene took it at the highest level.

"That desire was much bigger than the worries of failing."

Arteta has now been at the helm for almost two and a half seasons, and Arsenal, who face Manchester United on Saturday, are battling for a top-four Premier League finish.

United have laboured to move on from the Alex Ferguson era, and Arsenal have had their own struggles since Frenchman Wenger's heyday, with their decline beginning while he remained in post.

They last played in the Champions League in 2016-17, so to return there would be a feather in Arteta's cap.

Arteta was widely tipped to succeed Wenger in 2018, before Emery, now with surprise Champions League semi-finalists Villarreal, was surprisingly given the job.

"It was close, but things happen for a reason and it probably was too soon," Arteta told a news conference. "People made decisions, and they made a different decision."

Arsenal sit fifth, behind Tottenham on goal difference and three points ahead of a United side who have played one more game.

They are rebuilding impressively, albeit with a few bumps in the road along the way.

"The expectation this club is going to have is always to be the best, because we're going to compare all the time to the beautiful moments that we lived together here," Arteta, a former Arsenal midfielder and captain, said.

"What I'm saying is: do I really enjoy what I'm doing and how I'm doing it? Yes, because I know what we can do, what our potential is and where we want to take it.

"The rest is just fear because you're going to fail because you are looking there.

"You need to understand when you can get there and especially how you're going to do it. The 'how' is clear. It's probably a matter of time.

"But if you start to go there and try to find the 'how' when you don't have the tools to do it, I think you're going to struggle."

Arsenal could look to offload Nicolas Pepe in the January transfer window.

The 26-year-old has not lived up to his billing after being signed in 2019.

Pepe has scored once in nine appearances for the Gunners this season.

 

TOP STORY – MILAN SET FOR JANUARY PEPE SWOOP

Italian giants Milan are interested in signing Arsenal's Ivorian winger Nicolas Pepe, claims Il Milanista.

Pepe has more than two years to run on his Gunners deal, having joined on a five-year contract from Lille in 2019 for a club-record fee of £72 million (€79m).

Arsenal may be willing to let Pepe go for a little as £25m in January.

ROUND-UP 

- Chelsea's Spanish full-back Cesar Azpilicueta is on Barcelona's transfer radar, according to SPORT. The 32-year-old's contract expires at the end of this season.

- Tottenham have joined Inter in having an interest in signing Bayern Munich midfielder Corentin Tolisso, claims Kicker. Tolisso is out of contract at the end of this season.

- Fabrizio Romano reports that talks between Gavi and Barcelona on a five-year contract extension are progressing amid interest in the Spanish teenager from Chelsea.

- Jose Mourinho's Roma are considering a move to sign Atletico Madrid's Mexico international midfielder Hector Herrera in January, claims Calciomercato. Atletico are willing to cash in on Herrera, who is out of contract in mid-2022.

- Manchester City target Theo Hernandez is close to completing a contract renewal with Milan, according to Rudy Galetti. The Rossoneri have reached an agreement with him until 2026.

- FotoMac claims Mohamed Elneny's agent has reached an agreement with Arsenal for the Egyptian to leave in January. He was previously linked with Galatasaray.

- Lens midfielder Seko Fofana has been added to Newcastle United's shortlist of transfer targets, claims Foot Mercato.