Arsenal now find themselves on the cusp of Champions League qualification for the first time in six years as they occupy the much-coveted fourth spot with just three games left to play.
It has come as a surprise to many, especially given the Gunners embarked on a three-game losing streak as recently as mid-April - with all three defeats coming against sides they were expected to beat.
Mikel Arteta's men appeared to struggle without midfield talisman Thomas Partey, who sustained an injury in the defeat by Crystal Palace that ruled him out for the rest of the season.
In his place, Arteta has opted to deploy Mohamed Elneny over summer signing Albert Sambi Lokonga. With the latter still only 22 years of age, the Gunners boss deemed Elneny's experience and reliability a more attractive trait at such a pivotal stage of the campaign.
Elneny has had to contend with a bit-part role for so much of his Arsenal career under three different managers, but he has showed up when his side needed him most in recent weeks. The Egypt international has played a starring role in crucial wins away at Chelsea and West Ham, with a vital victory against Manchester United wedged between.
However, the 29-year-old has previously been on the cusp of leaving the Gunners for good - most notably once he had just returned from a loan spell with Turkish giants Besiktas. Elneny has since opened up on that period of his career on Egyptian television.
"I will tell you something I have never told anyone, when I finished my loan the club told me to find another team," the midfielder explained. "Arteta does not have me in his plans, it was over. They called my agent and told him, I told my agent to start looking for other clubs."
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"My agent suggested to go back to Arsenal for pre-season, I told him if that is what the club wants then fine - if they don't, then I had a great season at Besiktas and they want me, as do other Premier League clubs. The club decided I go back for pre-season, but remember Arteta had me outside of his plans.
"I trained well and played the first friendly game and scored a goal from the half-way line - Arteta started to see, when he gives instructions I know what he wants. I can read his plan and I execute it to the letter. Any instructions, I swear, I execute it to the letter."
Elneny's devotion to following his manager's orders appears to have paid dividends as reports start to circulate the Egyptian could be rewarded with a new contract. The Athletic report that negotiations between the club and the player's representatives are at an early stage but both parties are hopeful an agreement can be reached.
Not only have the former Basel man's performances on the pitch played a huge part in putting Arsenal into the position they find themselves in currently, but he is always widely liked by the entirety of the Gunners dressing room.
Arteta oversees the youngest squad in the Premier League while being the youngest manager himself, meaning any player of the required ability who also boasts valuable leadership qualities and sufficient experience should be cherished.
Elneny is likely to feature in all three of Arsenal's remaining Premier League fixtures which will determine their status in Europe next year, including Thursday night's grudge match against local rivals and Champions League challengers Tottenham.
