Houssem Aouar passed his Premier League audition on Thursday evening after his impressive performance against West Ham in the Europa League. The Lyon midfielder has consistently been linked with a move to Arsenal, but Edu must now seriously consider pursuing a deal for him.
According to Italian news outlet Calciomercato, the Gunners are keen on signing Aouar. The midfielder has changed his agent, which could be a game-changer from the previous attempt to sign him.
And there will be another incentive to secure his services after his excellent display against West Ham, where he played on the left side of midfield, highlighted that he will be a perfect fit in Arteta’s 4-3-3 system as a No. 8.
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The north London side has seemed to target players who have excellent ball carrying skills. With Thomas Partey anchoring the midfield and Martin Odegaard being tasked with leading the team in creating chances, having a midfielder who can successfully carry the ball from defence to midfield is crucial.
Aouar proved that he is capable of doing this with his display in the Europa League on Thursday evening. His pass for Moussa Dembele led to Aaron Cresswell’s foul and subsequent red card, and that changed the outlook of the match.
The Lyon man managed to score seven goals from midfield in 30 league games last season. This was more than the goals scored in the league by Arsenal’s central midfield combined (5).
It shows he would be excellent in the No. 8 role that is currently occupied by Granit Xhaka. The French international dribbled past 55 players last season, while Xhaka dribbled passed 11.
Aouar would be an excellent signing by Arsenal and it is a deal they should be pursuing. The Gunners will need strengthening in the midfield position, and the Lyon man would be an ideal candidate to play alongside Partey and Odegaard in a midfield three.
Despite his knack for goals which is impressive for a midfielder, it is his ability to be press-resistant that really stands out. In arguably what is his greatest strength, Aouar has a similar ball-retention to PSG midfielder Marco Veratti and with Arteta favouring a slow build-up possession orientated system, he would fit perfectly into the side.
Aouar, a creative player who Arsenal desperately tried to sign in 2020, was also subject to interest in the most recent summer transfer window. Transfer expert, Fabrizio Romano speaking on The Arsenal Lounge at the start of the season said: "Aouar is a player they [Arsenal] love. They like Aouar. They are still waiting to see what happens with Lyon."
The Gunners should certainly try to revive their interest for the midfielder in the summer. His performance against West Ham highlighted that is capable of still being a dominant player against Premier League sides, and he would be the ideal fit for Arteta. With CIES Football Observatory valuing him at €20-30m (£16.5-25m), he could prove to be a bargain.
