A target of Mikel Arteta’s during the summer, Houssem Aouar never got the switch to Arsenal so many of their fans wanted.
The France international, who picked up his first cap for his country earlier this year, was the subject of a bid from the Gunners, but Lyon stood firm and rejected the offer, deeming it unsatisfactory.
Arsenal wanted to include Mattéo Guendouzi, who was never really an option for the Ligue 1 side, and Edu eventually decided to forego further attempts to get Aouar, moving onto Thomas Partey and his €50m clause instead.
That transfer happened swiftly (and perhaps better fitted the London club’s needs), leaving the Frenchman at his childhood club, where he will likely stay until the end of the campaign.
However, the start of the season hasn’t exactly been idyllic for him, picking up just one assist in eight games and scoring two goals, both of which have been penalties.
He has failed to finish the past four league games, substituted before the 60th minute against Monaco and Lille (the latter supposedly due to fitness issues), and ended up getting injured at the weekend against Saint-Etienne, which has now cost him his spot in the France squad for the current international break.
Originally replaced by Nabil Fékir, as his former teammate brought ‘more guarantees’ in the role according to Didier Deschamps, Aouar was eventually called up when the Real Betis star pulled out due to injury.
That was before the weekend, but it’s now been announced the apparent hamstring issue picked up in the derby against Saint-Etienne means he has been dropped from the squad for the upcoming France games.
He won’t be replaced by anyone else, and there will be hope over at Lyon it’s nothing too serious.
Either way, things haven’t really gone his way since the Arsenal move failed, but there’s still plenty of time to turn things around in hope of maybe getting his big transfer next summer instead.
