Arteta heeds Wright's plea as Arsenal open fresh contract talks with unsung hero

Arsenal icon Ian Wright has seen his Gunners wishes granted with the club reportedly ready to open contract talks with Mohamed Elneny.

The Egyptian midfielder is out of contract at the end of the season and was expected to bring his stint at the Emirates Stadium to a close on a free transfer, six-and-a-half years on from his arrival from Basel for a fee in the region of £5million.

However, Elneny has re-established himself in the Arsenal side over recent weeks as the Gunners continue their push for a return to the Champions League. He has played each minute of Arsenal's last four games - a run that has seen the side chalk-up four consecutive victories including wins over Chelsea, Manchester United and West Ham United.

Following another impressive performance in the slender 2-1 victory over Leeds United at the weekend, it has been suggested by The Athletic that the Gunners are intending on opening contract talks with Elneny regarding an extended stay in North London. That is certainly a decision that will delight Wright, who previously expressed his satisfaction with the midfielder's performances.

Speaking after the Gunners' recent win over Man United, the Highbury legend said: "We are talking about players who came on who do a job for their manager with unbelievable professionalism.

"Elneny may be leaving at the end of the season, you look at that performance and the one against Chelsea, and you can only think to yourself that if Arsenal are trying to build a team to get to the top four, you need that back-up player.

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"He has to stay. For him to come in in those two games, which were arguably two of the biggest games in Arsenal's calendar, those are massive games, and for him to come in - the last time he played was 2 December - and play at that level, you have to say hats off to him."

Elneny's recent turnaround in North London is certainly terrific considering that he looked destined for the exit door on a number of occasions in the past. After falling down the pecking order, he was allowed to join Turkish giants Besiktas on-loan for the 2019/20 season.

In all though, he has made 144 appearances for the Gunners - 14 of which have come during the current campaign - and could yet represent a key part of the Arsenal squad. Should he elect to stay, he will be one of Mikel Arteta 's midfield options as the club attempts to balance domestic commitments alongside a European campaign.

Elneny would likely provide support for Thomas Partey, whilst Arsenal are thought to be keen on adding to their options with Leicester 's Youri Tielemans emerging as a target ahead of the summer transfer window. There remains doubt over the long-term future of Granit Xhaka, though, with the Swiss having been strongly linked with a switch to AS Roma last summer.

Elsewhere, Arteta also has a decision to make over his attack at the Emirates Stadium with Alexandre Lacazette and Eddie Nketiah out of contract this summer, although the latter has been in brilliant form lately.