It should come as no surprise now, but Mohamed Elneny is really quite good.

As if shining in a full Premier League debut against Tottenham Hotspur wasn’t impressive enough, the Egyptian made his first Champions League appearance for Arsenal away against Barcelona and managed to pass all tests with flying colours yet again.

Impressive on the ball in the early stages, Elneny was key as Arsenal started the game brightly. Moving constantly to provide his teammates with a passing option, the 23-year-old picked up possession only to swiftly move it on and keep Arsenal ticking. Almost every time he got the ball he moved it along within one or two touches, something Mathieu Flamini and Francis Coquelin regularly fail to manage.

Moving constantly to provide his teammates with a passing option, the 23-year-old picked up possession only to swiftly move it on and keep Arsenal ticking. Almost every time he got the ball he moved it along within one or two touches, something Mathieu Flamini and Francis Coquelin regularly fail to manage.

Arsenal's Egyptian midfielder Mohamed Elneny celebrates his goal during the UEFA Champions League Round of 16 second leg football match FC Barcelona vs Arsenal FC at the Camp Nou stadium in Barcelona on March 16, 2016. / AFP / JOSEP LAGO (Photo credit should read JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images)
Was that OK? (JOSEP LAGO/AFP/Getty Images)

In the first half alone Elneny completed 20 of his 21 passes. Over the course of the whole game he completed 40 of 43. Even in Arsenal’s own box Elneny showed great composure, easing away from challenges in one first half moment to evade pressure and play the ball to safety down the line.

Even in Arsenal’s own box Elneny showed great composure, easing away from challenges in one first half moment to evade pressure and play the ball to safety down the line.

Though he doesn’t look like a natural finisher – Elneny fluffed his lines against Watford at the weekend and once in the first half on Wednesday – he calmly dispatched a second half effort to give Arsenal fans hope for a few fleeting minutes.

Coming onto Alexis’ cutback on the edge of the box, a curled effort swung into the roof of the net and left Marc-André ter Stegen with no chance.

Defensively it was a difficult evening for Arsenal but the January signing did manage to make three tackles, more than any other midfielder on the pitch.

Not just a goal, but a thoroughly composed and well-rounded performance against the most talented opposition imaginable.

Arsenal made a great addition in January and Mohamed Elneny has truly hit the ground running.

Tough games at White Hart Lane and Camp Nou haven’t fazed him in the slightest; there’s little doubt Elneny has what it takes to become a regular in the Arsenal side.