Arsenal dealt transfer blow after Aouar claims he is STAYING at the French side

Arsenal's pursuit for Houssem Aouar looks set to end in failure during this transfer window after the midfielder committed his immediate future to Lyon.

The French star has been linked with a move to the Emirates Stadium throughout this summer but appeared to confirm on Sunday that he is going nowhere on deadline day.

On Sunday he scored Lyon's equaliser against Marseille in a 1-1 Ligue Un draw, and put in a man of the match performance in the process.

After the game the 22-year-old took the opportunity to distance himself from a possible exit of last season's Champions League semi-finalists.

'I felt that I could still bring things to this team and the club, the club that raised me, 'Quite simply,' he told Telefoot La Chaine.

Arsenal's hopes of securing a deal looked remote heading into the weekend regardless after Lyon's president Jean-Michel Aulas claimed that none of his side's key stars would be leaving the club due to issues trying to find a replacement in such a short space of time.

The Gunners had struggled in matching Lyon's £50million valuation of the France Under 21 star who was influential in guiding the club to the last four of the Champions League.

Despite the set-back of failing to land Aouar, Mikel Arteta's side could still have a bust deadline day.

They have enquired about Hertha Berlin 18-year-old defender Omar Rekik, while out of favour midfielder Matteo Guendouzi is set to join the German side on loan.