Arsenal may have located their replacement for Matteo Guendouzi

Aouar could be the next big signing at Arsenal

With the new season around the corner, teams are preparing for the opening day and to date Arsenal have been busy over the summer strengthening the squad but still have an eye out for potential arrivals and the rumours around Frenchman Houssem Aouar are intensifying.

So far Arteta has acquired Willian, Gabriel Magalhaes and a second loan spell for Dani Ceballos. However, the consensus around the club is that they still need a central midfielder. Thomas Partey of Atletico Madrid has been long linked but Madrid refused to be moved from their €50 million valuation.

This has led to Arteta and co turning to other options, and Olympique Lyonnais star Aouar could be the man.

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The French midfielder shone in Lyon’s Champions League adventure from his midfield role where he did a little bit of everything. His ability on the ball made him a vital cog in Lyon’s lineup, shifting between a deeper-lying central midfield role to the left-hand side of midfield where he was asked to get forward and attack.

He featured 41 times this year across all competitions during which he contributed 3 goals and 4 assists in the league and in the Champions league 1 goal and 4 assists, whilst acting as the fulcrum the side played through.

Aouar looks to get on the ball as much as possible ranking 10th for most touches in Ligue 1. From here the midfielder looks to get the team on the attack as quick as possible being able to beat players at will or delivering passes with pinpoint accuracy (ranking 7th for players dribbled past in Ligue 1 and 4th for passes into the final 3rd).

Standing 5ft 7in, Aouar has an excellent low centre of gravity and always seems to be in control of the ball and what he wants to do with it. This will suit him well for the high intensity pressure of the Premier League and seamlessly fit in with Arteta’s desire to play out from the back.

With more attacking importance on Aouar this season, his defensive actions were not as high previous years but the Frenchman by no means is a passenger. Of the 28 tackles in the league he attempted this year he won 19 with the majority coming in midfield where he often looks to intercept and break up the play before it happens but also shows that willingness to work back and protect his defence.

The French midfielder would likely line up alongside Granit Xhaka in the Arsenal engine room should he arrive and the two would act as the double pivot through which the side would play. Aouar is a different type of player to Thomas Partey, with the Ghanaian stationed as the deep lying defensive midfielder who does not get forward as often.

Lyon seemed resigned to losing their star midfielder but will not let him leave cheap so it remains to be seen if Aouar will arrive in North London. A number of suitors have expressed an interest from PSG to Juventus and whichever club is lucky enough to secure the Frenchman will be thanking their lucky stars.

Only time will tell where he lands.

Who do you guys think will sign Aouar?