Transfer Centre

Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar not disappointed to miss out on Arsenal move

By Darren Plant, Senior Reporter | 09 October 2020

Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar says that he is not disappointed to have missed out on a transfer to Arsenal during the summer transfer window.

Midfielder Houssem Aouar has suggested that he is happy to have remained at Lyon for the 2020-21 campaign.

During the closing weeks of the summer transfer window, the 22-year-old was heavily linked with a transfer to Arsenal.

However, the Gunners refused to meet Lyon's £54m asking price, resulting in negotiations breaking down during the latter part of last week.

Rather than being left frustrated with a failure to move to the Premier League, Aouar has spoken highly of his long-term club, revealing his desire to help them produce an improved Ligue 1 campaign.

Speaking to reporters while on international duty with France, the playmaker said: "Of course I asked myself all the necessary questions. I am in the head space to have a great season with my club and get back the points that we have lost.

"So of course we are going to try to do the best season and to try to put the team and the club back in its rightful place, at the top of France.

"Disappointed? I am the opposite. I am at home, in the club that I love, with my friends and my family. So certainly I have all my bearings and it is giving me even more motivation to have a good season and to bring the club back into the top places in France."

Aouar made his national team debut on Wednesday night as Les Bleus thrashed Ukraine in Paris.