When Mohamed Elneny touched down in Istanbul's Ataturk Airport in the summer of 2019 he was right to consider his Arsenal future.
Unai Emery had seen enough and cast him aside. He was not involved, his confidence plummeted and a loan move to Besiktas was sanctioned. It felt like the kiss of death for his Arsenal career.
Egyptian Elneny, much like most of Arsenal's supporters, conceded that with Emery in charge it was the end of the road for him in north London.
But, as it often does in football, luck changed, circumstances changed, and now Elneny is seizing a starting role under Mikel Arteta and a new contract is in the offing.