Lyon's Houssem Aouar has broken his silence after his proposed transfer to Arsenal collapsed.
The 22-year-old midfielder had been linked with a switch to The Gunners for weeks but the Premier League club failed to meet Lyon's demands in time to seal his signature.
Arsenal were told they must have a deal wrapped up by Friday night but did not return to Lyon with an improved bid having seen two previous offers rejected.
A big of around £32million is believed to have been Arsenal's latest offering as Lyon held out for closer to £54m, but Aouar's comments suggest he may have stayed put anyway.
“I felt that I can still bring something to this team,” Aouar said after Sunday's 1-1 draw with Marseille.
"I wanted to continue the adventure with the club who raised me.
"We must raise our heads because we have to do better."
Arsenal had also offered misfit youngster Matteo Guendouzi in part-exchange to try and tempt Lyon into a sale, but the French club were not interested in the 21-year-old.
Mikel Arteta has now reportedly turned his attentions to trying to lure Chelsea midfielder Jorginho to the club on loan as the clock ticks down on deadline day.
Lyon meanwhile look set to lose one of their star men from last season as Memphis Depay edges towards a move to Barcelona.
The former Man Utd winger is expected to head to the Nou Camp for a fee worth £25m plus add-ons, where he will pen a five-year contract.
Juninho Pernambucano, Lyon's sporting director, told Telefoot on Sunday: "He [Depay] has 12 months left on his contract, so… He has got an agreement with Barcelona, we don’t hide that.
“It is possible that Memphis signs for Barcelona tomorrow, but it is not certain.
“He is the most likely to go. If he stays he will help us.”
Depay's arrival at Barcelona is likely to signal Ousmane Dembele's exit, with Man Utd hopeful of landing the forward.
Cutbiklty
0
us we need Aouar please we want next year Arsenal in Champions league
Buwbepsuy
0
thanks
Hazacios
1
We dont need aouar coz he very arrogant.. get out from move to arsenal. Bullshit this guys. Puihhhh💦💦💦💦
juyknuz
2
he is stupid,we don't want any lousy excuse
hokbeimopz
2
us we need Aouar and patery today please
Jokdenry
3
Why did d Board not enlist Korenke's help in Aoura's nd Partey deals? Even though we know arsenal operates on Club's earnings,hence d worry about UCL model for its existence, yet, in other to ASSIST Arteta to achieve his dreams of HOW to Improve d average players in his Squad so as to be able to Compete with D top 6 teams,Korenke should have bin involved ,after all even if He were to borrow d Club d cash which was around #100mil.it could have bin paid back wen things return to normal; we are operating in very uncommon circumstances. Or is it dat ARTETA,EDU ND D BOARD feel/believe dat Aoura doesn't worth d Transfer Fee demanded by Lyon? or not wanting to make d same mistake d club was alleged to have made with Pepe's transfer fee.?Anyway,it is disappointing to Fans dat Arsenal often more dan any other Club in EPL misses out on their targeted or scouted Talents/Players. Dis situation must be adressed soonest.shalom!!!
vayaiptuz
0
This is the exact problem Arsenal have been facing over the years. Not getting their main target. Let's hope Arteta can stir the team forward. The only positive for me is that we are not getting average players in anymore rather we are pushing the many we have out. I will trust the process.
That's Kroenke model of bussiness, he's never interested in signing top target, he's only using media to buy time
Rchilla
1
Aouar was dragging legs n it was obvious from begging, when earmarked about barsa or juve swoop he’d rather wait for another year to try his luck, unfortunately for arsenal;((
hokbeimopz
0
please bring Thomas patery and Aouar please sign them today please
pobbcnpuyz
0
yiwcknort
0
pls don't blame arteta at the end of the season if we did not achieve anything and I'll not be surprise if arteta decide to resign from arsenal cos of not meeting his prefer player's demand
we should blame him cos he's not pointing his finger to the root of the problem . say it that the club is not giving you money to sign players you want , don't make the same mistake Wenger made
Sochima92
1
This is the exact problem Arsenal have been facing over the years. Not getting their main target. Let's hope Arteta can stir the team forward. The only positive for me is that we are not getting average players in anymore rather we are pushing the many we have out. I will trust the process.
burnakush
2
keep saying aouar ain't worth 54million but overrated epl stars are worth above that nonsense
Wibacikz
2
pls don't blame arteta at the end of the season if we did not achieve anything and I'll not be surprise if arteta decide to resign from arsenal cos of not meeting his prefer player's demand
Vaeaekuz
4
Having stingy Kroenke as the owner of Arsenal. I'm not surprised one bit. Let's rather hope on the magic of Arteta to see us through. Stingy Kroenke was a big accident.
SkylarJohsua
3
since the beginning i never raised my hopes up with signing aour or partey.. arsenal is just a broke club.. even gunnersaurus also sacked.. so sad.
Azeem2
6
Though Arsenal fucks up sometimes but that doesn't stop me from supporting them, I am somehow attached to this club don't know why if I say I want to stop supporting them I'm only decieving myself. Arsenal for life
Vaeaekuz
0
Lyon is just fooling us. If they are ready to sale Depay for 25 million to Barcelona what makes them value Aouar at 54 million. let Arteta swallow his pride and politics,play Ozil and we are good. 54 million is too much we can find better players in the championship Buendia from Norwich or even Kante can help as a holding midfielder
You are clearly lost Bru. So ignorant of the game.
daboy77
2
I told my friend at the beginning of this transfer window that I won’t be surprised if Arsenal later end up not sighing any of Thomas Partey and Aouar and he argue with me but at last none of them come true. What a team I’ve been supporting 🤔🤔🤔🙄
kupbikpst
1
we don't need you there are so many options
Liacdimprt
2
I wonder how Auba must feel right now after he was told the big plans the club has for the future
Mahdeiltu
0
Lyon was asking for 54m arsenal improve bid was 32m at could have settled on 40m or 45m but Lyon is greedy they are exploring us last year pepe 72m why they don't consider or appreciate this point. at the same time arsenal is not serious they always want and love cheap things that why they are unable to achieve meaningful things
Maravilla
0
[image]
nice bro, a die hard gunner, just like me !
Legend-Yankiddo-kojo
4
houamnrstu
3
please Arsenal Board we must add players if we really want to achieve our goal because watching yesterday match you will agree with me that the very moment cebalos was sub the pressure became very high so we need more mildfielders
Siainprsty
2
Get us th Thomas Partey please forget about him
didieralain
0
Lyon is just fooling us. If they are ready to sale Depay for 25 million to Barcelona what makes them value Aouar at 54 million. let Arteta swallow his pride and politics,play Ozil and we are good. 54 million is too much we can find better players in the championship Buendia from Norwich or even Kante can help as a holding midfielder
delay his contract will end in 1 year while. Aouar still has 3years left
Rush007
1
Arsenal Always Cheap
David00001
1
Bayern usually don't spend big money on players
OnileArsenal
3
Can't imagine this!!
hazardeden1017
1
54 million was a steal for him, now psg or Real will take him nxt season, poor business and people accuse Chelsea when clearly if we left the players out that we signed now, would have departed to Real and Bayern easily later
siedilmopu
2
Lyon is just fooling us. If they are ready to sale Depay for 25 million to Barcelona what makes them value Aouar at 54 million. let Arteta swallow his pride and politics,play Ozil and we are good. 54 million is too much we can find better players in the championship Buendia from Norwich or even Kante can help as a holding midfielder
yucci211
1
Arsenal is not just serious otherwise 54M is not worth the Midfielder
FantasticGeofex
1
sunday was for weak smaller teams to win...da likes of ..???..While da bigger teams wea disciplined....
pobbcnpuyz
6