Arsenal transfer stance on Houssem Aouar revealed

Does Mikel Arteta Still Want Houssem Aouar at Arsenal?

It would constitute a considerable rethink were Arteta to change his mind on Aouar. Pushing hard last summer but eventually falling short on their offer and the player’s desire for Champions League football, with the money no longer an issue to strikes as one of those classic ‘no brainers’.

A player you were desperate to sign 12 months ago now worth half the price and more open to making the move to north London without European football? Why not indeed.

Has Arteta had a rethink, though? It’s hard to imagine he has.

Not a classic No. 10, where Aouar would slot into this team in a 4-2-3-1 makes for interesting hypothesising. He’s not someone with the defensive output to be fully trusted as one half of a double pivot; at least, it seems so, but that is not out of the question when he has such a strong No. 6 like Partey beside him.

Aouar’s standout quality is that he is both a progressive carrier and progressive passer. Still sitting in the 85th and 88th percentiles for both respectively, his motions into the final third are fluid and effortless with a Gordon Ramsey-esque pinch of silk. Excellent dribbling success rate and vision means he’d thrives as No. 8 in a midfield trio.

However, where he could also slot in is as the left-‘winger’ in the three behind the striker. It’s a position he shifts out to a lot with Lyon and playing there he would spend most of his time drifting into the half-spaces with Kieran Tierney holding the width, much like Emile Smith Rowe does albeit with less running of the channels.

That would open up Smith Rowe to be the recognised No. 10 unless, that is, Aouar’s addition would help prompt the 4-3-3 switch, just like Ben White’s signing could do. That feels like the natural progressive step.

What is for sure is that this talk will begin to intensify over the coming days to the point where Arsenal’s real intentions are known. They still need to offload midfielders as the reports suggest, but with Matteo Guendouzi gone and both Xhaka and Lucas Torreira out of the European Championships and Copa America respectively, sales could be coming up.