Lyon's French midfielder Houssem Aouar celebrates after scoring a goal during the French L1 football match between OGC Nice and Olympique Lyonnais at the Allianz Riviera stadium in Nice, on December 19, 2020. (Photo by Valery HACHE / AFP) (Photo by VALERY HACHE/AFP via Getty Images)
According to journalist Fabrizio Romano (h/t Football.london), Arsenal still hold interest in Lyon’s Houssem Aouar. The club believe that the Frenchman is the solution to their creative problems. Aouar was a target for the club last summer but the deal did not come to fruition. However, those links have started to resurface again.
Four wins from five games might have somewhat eased the issues at the club and rightly so. The new set-up under Arteta is flourishing and the club looks back to normal. Emile Smith Rowe has done well in the meantime, flourishing as a playmaker.
Mikel Arteta seems to have found a temporary fix for the problems plaguing Arsenal. It is only in the recent games that Arsenal have started to find some goals as well as points. Nonetheless, longstanding creative issues still remain.
Though they might be playing well now, they can’t ignore the fact that they still need an established No.10. Mesut Ozil has departed the club for Fenerbahce. That somewhat leaves the club without an established and senior creative midfielder.
Houssem Aouar would be the perfect man for Arsenal’s midfield. His neat dribbling, ability to get out of pressure situations with the ball and providing chances in the final third, all while maintaining a good level of defensive stance, are just some of the things one can admire about him.
Whatever Arsenal do, they cannot let Aouar slip from their hands. He is one of the best emerging midfielders in Europe and proved the same with his performances for Lyon during last season. His addition would improve the Gunners’ midfield exponentially.
The problem with Aouar’s signing is the fee being demanded by Lyon. A staggering €60million has been quoted for the academy graduate. A deal looks very unlikely during this transfer window but a renewed effort must be made this summer.