It does feel like Arsenal have put all of their efforts into signing Houssem Aouar this summer, so it will be interesting to see if they have any alternate plans in place.
It’s clear that Mikel Arteta wanted to add him to the squad and he looked like he would be a great signing, but reports from France have confirmed that he’s met with Lyon’s executives and the player himself confirmed that he will be staying there this season:
Breaking | Houssem Aouar has just come out of a meeting with the Lyon board & announced to the rest of the staff that he is staying at Lyon. This despite the offers from Arsenal & concrete interest from Juventus & PSG, he has decided to do another season with OL. (RMC)
— Get French Football News (@GFFN) October 3, 2020
It’s a double blow for Arsenal because it does leave their midfield looking a bit light this season, but it also gives other teams a chance to get their finances in order and you get the feeling there will be more competition to sign the Frenchman next summer.
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![[FILES] Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta gestures on the touchline during the English League Cup semi-final first leg football match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield in Liverpool, north west England on January 13, 2022. (Photo by Paul ELLIS / AFP)](https://www.afriupdate.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/000_9W63G7-897x598-1-120x86.jpg "Pochettino advised me not to go into coaching, says Arteta 3")
It will also be interesting to see how this works out for Aouar because he has looked distracted when he’s played in the last couple of games, and a team digging their heels in and forcing someone to stay rarely works out well.
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