Mikel Arteta will hope to improve certain areas of the Arsenal squad, and one name they reportedly seem to be interested in is Lyon star Houssem Aouar.
French news outfit L’Equipe claim that Aouar, who is also wanted by Manchester City and Juventus, is a transfer target for Arsenal this summer.
Aouar could cost a hefty £54million, which is a price too steep for Arsenal, but is he worth the money?
Houssem Aouar and his numbers
Having joined Lyon back in 2009 as a kid, the 22-year-old broke in the first team back in 2017 and has been a regular for the senior side ever since. He made 58 league starts in the last couple of Ligue 1 seasons, registering 10 goals and 11 assists in the process, and is regarded as one of the most consistent playmakers in the country.
A versatile attacker, who can play on the left-wing, Aouar is an excellent passer, who is nonchalant during the phase of build-up play. He has also done a decent job when asked to play in a deeper midfield role for Lyon, and his versatility will hold him in good stead if he signs for Arsenal.
(Photo by FRANCK FIFE/AFP via Getty Images)
Aouar loves the ball at his feet, is an excellent dribbler and has a keen eye for a pass. When given space in the final third, he creates chances galore and is a hard man to face even for the best of defenders.
He is yet to break into the French national side, but has already made 135 appearances for Lyon, with 24 goals and 25 assists to his name. At just 22, he is a potential superstar and would be a smart addition.
Where would he fit in?
The Gunners have relied heavily on their prolific goal-scorers for over a year now. But lack of creativity from the middle is an issue Arteta needs to solve, and Aouar could be a good solution to this problem.
Capable of playing in any of the attacking midfield roles, Aouar could replace Mesut Ozil in the long run and could be the mainstay at Arsenal for years to come.
Arteta used the likes of Dani Ceballos, Joe Willock and even Bukayo Saka in a playmaker’s role last season, but Aouar will be the first choice number 10 in Arsenal’s 4-2-3-1 and would certainly make them a more balanced side.
Ceballos’ deal is yet to be made permanent while Ozil does not seem to be in Arteta’s plans making this signing a must for the Gunners this summer.
At £54million, Aouar’s price tag is a bit steep but at his age, the Lyon midfielder will be an asset at Emirates for years to come. If they can fend off interest from Manchester City and Juventus, they should do what it takes to land the French youngster this summer.
