Arsenal could be onto their next Samir Nasri in reported target Houssem Aouar

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Arsenal are reportedly interested in Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar.

According to The Daily Mail, the Frenchman has caught the Gunners’ attention having been in impressive form for the Ligue 1 outfit since breaking through in 2016.

Despite being just 21, Aouar has already racked up 126 senior appearances for the club, with 30 of those coming this season.

Aouar is cleary rated very highly by the club, with Rudi Garcia even handing him the captain’s armband on a few occasions in the absence of Memphis Depay.

The France U21 international appears to be on track to become a fine player, and it remains to be seen if a move to England will soon be on the cards.

Arsenal’s supposed interest in Aouar is intriguing.

The player has been likened to Aaron Ramsey before, but there is another former Emirates star he arguably resembles more.

TBR’s view – Arsenal next Nasri?

There are undoubtedly shades of Samir Nasri about Aouar.

For starters, the pair are physically very similar – both standing at 5ft 9in tall.

Then positionally they don’t differ too much. Aouar tends to play most games centrally, but has played a number of times from the left this season, which were two areas Nasri used to occupy.

Aouar is most definitely a strong technician, and is able to wriggle out of tight spaces with his quick feet – he also has a particular eye for a nutmeg, something Nasri was always capable of.

A lot of Arsenal fans remain a little sour about Nasri given his transfer to Manchester City in 2011, but there was no doubting his quality for the Gunners back in the day, and a move for Aouar could land the club with a new version of the now 32-year-old.