Houssem Aouar is being dubbed the next Julian Draxler by much of the Arsenal fan base. A player who resurfaces more than a Granit Xhaka red card each summer since the first links with the club back in 2020.
Unsurprisingly, 2022 has again seen the return of the rumours - but this time Arsenal could get the Frenchman for significantly less than two years ago. Gone are the £40million-plus price tags and Aouar could be free to leave for as little as €15million (£12.6million) according to French news outlet Foot Mercato.
Despite the links to Arsenal in the summers of 2020 and 2021, Mikel Arteta has ultimately decided against the Frenchman. Arteta moved for Thomas Partey in his first summer window, and Albert Sambi Lokonga in the second.
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Now Arsenal are on the lookout for yet another central midfielder for the third summer in a row, and reports suggest the Spaniard will snub Aouar once again. The primary goal of the window is much closer to home.
Youri Tielemans is the club's reported main target in midfield with a deal possible for as little as £25million according to The Telegraph. The Belgian has just the one year remaining on his deal but the Premier League experience and quality has meant a preference from Arteta.
Arteta has not been a fan of players who fall out of line with the group. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was stripped of the captaincy for discipline breaches and eventually moved on.
Aouar has been found twice in two separate summers to reportedly skipped training. GFFN reported in July 2021 that despite Lyon’s claims of illness Aouar had missed preseason training to achieve a move away from the club.
L'Equipe du Soir via GFFN reported a year earlier that Aouar was sanctioned by then sporting director Juninho for not putting in the required fitness work in a warm down.
It was also reported this season by L'Equipe that Aouar was the subject of whistles from supporters in the win over Bordeaux this season due to his performance. These incidents will not have gone unnoticed by Arteta and his staff.
From how players like Aubameyang, Matteo Guendouzi and Mesut Ozil have been handled by Arteta, a move for Aouar seems very unlikely. Even the astonishingly low fee is not enough to tempt Arsenal, although the substantial drop in price is likely far more to do with just the length remaining on his contract.
Instead, it is almost certain to be impacted by the three above examples, of which there are more to be found with further digging. Arteta is building a harmonious group that work by the principles of the Arsenal he wants to construct.
Players such as Takehiro Tomiyasu have epitomised this. Even Nuno Tavares who has been substituted twice before the second half appreciates what Arteta’s mentality is all about.
"His mentality is that of a champ," said Tavares in a recent interview with Counter Attack HQ. It is this respect and appreciation that Arteta must want from his players.
Aouar simply doesn’t seem to fall into the category of player Arteta wants otherwise the club would have surely moved from him already, almost certainly this summer considering his reported lowly price. Instead, they are aiming for better and they are right to do so.
