'Elneny needs to leave Arsenal' - Emery outcast urged to seek January move

The Egypt midfielder has made one Premier League appearance since the change in management in the summer and his former coach feels he needs to play

Mohamed Elneny has been advised to leave Arsenal in January by one of his former coaches.

The international has been overlooked for much of the campaign and has made just one Premier League appearance this term.

With five outings in the and another in the , the 26-year-old has had to settle for a back-up role under Unai Emery and has been linked with a move to .

According to Hamdy Nouh, coach of Elneny's former team El Mokawloon, he must look for a way out of north London.

"He needs to leave Arsenal in the next transfer market, at least on loan to play more and regain his confidence," he told Goal.

"He has been influenced lately by the change in coach and his new style, but I am confident that he will return better than before, because of his great potential and the competitive spirit that will help him get back in."

Elneny joined El Mokawloon as a youth player in 2008 and broke into the senior team two years later, going on to make 39 appearances in all competitions before moving to in 2013.

Whoever does acquire the midfielder, Nouh says they will be signing a committed individual.

"He is one of the best players I have trained, he has a constant desire to learn and develop," he added

"He is committed to the coach's instructions on and off the pitch, which always helps him to be present mainly with most of the teams he has played for.

"Like all the players I've dealt with, I've tried to create a professional atmosphere for him from the time he was young, with closed camps, specific sleeping times, training and eating to get used to the professional atmosphere, which he always adhered to.

"I tried to develop his ability to shoot from long distances and play offensively."

Elneny signed a new contract until 2022 with Arsenal last March and admitted in the summer he was "excited" by the prospect of a fresh start under Arsene Wenger's successor Emery.

The Spaniard has spoken with Elneny over his lack of opportunities but has offered few guarantees over his long-term future.

Should Elneny's watching brief continue when the Gunners host on New Year's Day, his next appearance is likely to come in the third round against Blackpool.