Arsenal urged to sign 'fantastic' star who is 'best choice' to replace Mesut Ozil in 2021 - 7M sport

Arsenal urged to sign 'fantastic' star who is 'best choice' to replace Mesut Ozil in 2021



Posted Sunday, October 11, 2020 by Express.co.uk

Mesut Ozil is expected to leave Arsenal next summer having been exiled under Gunners boss Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal have been urged to snap up Houssem Aouar as a replacement for Mesut Ozil next summer. The Gunners were keen on the Lyon creator in the recently-closed window but failed to agree a deal.

The French club were demanding £55million for Aouar and snubbed an offer thought to be around £35m from the Gunners.

On deadline day, Arsenal instead chose to activate Thomas Partey's £45m release clause to prise the Ghanaian holding midfielder from Atletico Madrid.

But there is still a need for greater creativity from midfield and Arsenal's long-standing interest in France international Aouar indicates they could return for the 22-year-old in 2021.

The same window will see Arsenal let Ozil leave for free upon the expiry of his £350,000-a-week contract.

Arsenal urged to sign 'fantastic' star who is 'best choice' to replace Mesut Ozil in 2021
Arsenal urged to sign 'fantastic' star who is 'best choice' to replace Mesut Ozil in 2021 (Image: GETTY)

The World Cup-winning playmaker's Emirates exit could even come before then with Arsenal keen to cut short his deal and bid farewell in January.

The German has not played for the club since March and has not justified his club-record salary since being handed his big-money deal in January 2018 by Arsene Wenger.

Mikel Arteta is keen to part ways with Ozil despite publicly indicating he would be prepared to offer him a second chance, with the 31-year-old left out of the club's 25-man squad for the Europa League group stages this week.

And Newcastle and Tottenham hero Ginola believes Aouar would be the perfect replacement for the outgoing Ozil next year.

Arsenal urged to sign 'fantastic' star who is 'best choice' to replace Mesut Ozil in 2021
Arsenal urged to sign 'fantastic' star who is 'best choice' to replace Mesut Ozil in 2021 (Image: GETTY)

"I think so. Being replaced by Aouar would have been a fantastic choice," Ginola told Sky Sports News.

"He's definitely the type of player that Arsenal fans would love to watch in the middle of the park, that's for sure.

"If he wants to stay at Lyon, that's his concern, he's still a young player.

"To replace Ozil, I think he's the best choice for Arsenal."

In Partey, meanwhile, European football expert Julien Laurens believes Arsenal have signed a midfielder who is an almost completely unique talent on the continent.

He told ESPN FC: "I think this is a great signing. We can debate on it was not the priority or if it was, why did they wait so long to do it because it was a release clause which they could have paid in July, beginning of August.

"They didn't have to wait, they could have had him from the beginning of the season. I'm not sure what happened between [Houssem] Aouar, Jorginho and Partey but in the end they got Partey.

Arsenal urged to sign 'fantastic' star who is 'best choice' to replace Mesut Ozil in 2021
Arsenal urged to sign 'fantastic' star who is 'best choice' to replace Mesut Ozil in 2021 (Image: GETTY)

"And I think in terms of his profile and if you play him well with his ball progression, his physicality, his ability technically as well, he's a wonderful signing.

"I don't think there's many players with his characteristics and his ability right now in world football."

Partey could make his debut when Arsenal return to action after the international break against Manchester City next Saturday (5.30pm).



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