Houssem Aouar: Where it went wrong as former Arsenal target faces uncertain future

Back in the 2020 close-season, Houssem Aouar's move to the Premier League looked like a case of when rather than if.

The French playmaker had thrived for Lyon as Rudi Garcia's side reached the last four of the Champions League, earning a senior international call-up in the process. Arsenal were keen, with a £55m fee touted and Aouar himself reportedly agitating for a move.

In the end, though, nothing materialised, despite the Gunners' efforts to include Matteo Guendouzi as part of a deal. However, rather than finding another destination, Aouar remained at the Stade de Lyon while his team came back down to earth. Two years on from that first saga, Mirror Football looks at what went wrong for the 24-year-old and what needs to come next.

Aouar might have only scored once during that Champions League run, but he played a part in the quarter-final victory over Manchester City. With the scores level, his ball from deep set Moussa Dembele through to put L'OL ahead, and he later had a hand in the third when Ederson spilled his shot into the path of the striker.

A number of members of that Lyon squad moved on in 2020, with Joachim Andersen and Bertrand Traore moving to England. However, Aouar stayed put, and 12 months later the asking price had halved.

Arsenal were linked once more in 2021, with the reduced fee potentially offering some enticement. A player in his mould soon became less of a priority, though, thanks to Mikel Arteta's team wrapping up a permanent deal for Martin Odegaard.

In the intervening time, things haven't gone entirely swimmingly for the youngster. He earned his first France cap in October 2020, but the following month he was in trouble with club coach Garcia for refusing to warm down with his fellow