Elneny red rubbed out after Arsenal appeal
ARSENAL midfielder Mohamed Elneny has won his red card appeal and will not serve a three-match ban.
Elneny was sent off during Sunday’s 3-2 win over Southampton for shoving defender Cedric Soares.
But an Independent Regulatory Commission overturned the decision yesterday and he is free to face Newcastle, West Ham and Manchester United.
There was more good news for the Gunners yesterday with top prospect Reiss Nelson saying he is ready to sign a new contract.
Nelson, 18, who has been watched by Real Madrid and Paris St-Germain, made his 15th appearance and first league start for Arsenal at the Emirates on Sunday.
With fellow youngsters Chris Willock and Kaylen Hinds leaving the club last year there were fears Nelson, who is entering the final year of his current deal, could follow suit.
But despite contract talks stalling over Christmas, Nelson, who has been with the club since aged nine, said: “I’ll be signing it soon.
“It is a big achievement to sign for a big club like Arsenal so I’m just delighted with the contract and hopeful I can sign it soon.
“I’m just really happy. I’ve got my first start out of the way.
“Arsene Wenger keeps pushing the youngsters – me, Eddie Nketiah and Joe Willock. I think he has got a bight future planned for us.
“We’ve got a lot of firepower. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is on fire, Alexandre Lacazette as well, while Danny Welbeck scored two on Sunday. The opposi- tion should be scared by the fire-power we have got.”
Aubameyang, meanwhile, leapt to the defence of the Arsenal boss yesterday, claiming some of the criticism Wenger gets is unfair.
Gunners fans have voted with their feet recently by staying away from matches, and manywantWenger to quit.
But asked whether Wenger deserves to be criticised, Aubameyang, who joined Arsenal in January, said: “It’s a difficult question. Some - times I t hink it’s a bit unfair.
“We ’ r e playing better in these last games and I hope the people can see this.”
Arsenal are 13 points behind fourth-placed Tottenham but face CSKA Moscow for a place in the Europa League semifinals tomorrow.