He’s not really an automatic starter, he’s just played a ton due to circumstances.
1. Beginning of the season when we weren’t starting Torreira, he started.
2. Europa League, where he would started anyway added games.
3. We’ve played Xhaka at LB twice and at CB maybe 3 times this season, leaving a gap, so he started in CM.
4. Emery clearly doesn’t rate Elneny in the slightest.
5. Mainland-Niles woulda had a game or two but either he was injured or a RB/LB was injured so he filled in there.
If it wasn’t for injuries and suspensions he’d probably only have Europa and Carabao starts and be coming off the bench in the league.