COMMENT: Houssem Aouar and Mikel Arteta. If there was one player Arteta would emphasise during his lengthy interview process with Arsenal's directors, it was Lyon's midfield schemer. A player he had been scouting and reporting on at Manchester City for over two years. But also a player, as he was soon to be informed, who had long been on Arsenal's radar...

Today, a deal is close. Indeed, as we write, everything could be settled. On Wednesday afternoon, Lyon announced the signing of Lucas Paqueta from AC Milan. A midfield schemer, capable of playing in several positions, he's basically a like-for-like replacement for Aouar. Only the Brazilian's passport sets them apart.

So with the replacement in, Jean-Michel Aulas can now feel comfortable allowing Aouar his wish and selling the 22 year-old to Arsenal. A deal not so much negotiated through the press, but on social media - specifically the Lyon president's personal account. As much as there was some brinkmanship involved, Aulas never told Arsenal via these public channels to forget it. Instead, he kept the door open, almost signaling to his counterparts in London not to consider alternatives: Aouar would be there's sooner or later.

Indeed, you didn't really have to scratch the surface for long to realise Aulas had little wriggle room. Aouar has had the outline of an Arsenal contract agreed for some weeks and even more significantly, the lack of European football meant the player had long set his sights on cutting ties this summer. With the Euros and a place in France's squad to play for, Aouar knows he needs European football to maintain Didier Deschamps' interest. The France coach almost notorious for his demands that players experience European football at a club level before calling them into his squad.

Even Aouar, during his last involvement with Les Bleus, acknowledged as much: “I was happy to see that the fact of having worked well and progressed well with OL was rewarded. I think our performances in the Champions League have helped me, surely."

Aulas, while somewhat antagonistic towards the Gunners, clearly received the message.

Aouar (R) celebrates Lyon's Champions League victory over Manchester City in Lisbon

For Arsenal, as Arteta discovered during those chats with Edu and the now departed Raul Sanllehi, a deal for Aouar will be over seven years in the making.

At 15 and coming through Lyon's famed academy, Aouar's growing reputation had reached English shores. Arsenal, through then manager Arsene Wenger's connections, were well across the prospect from Villeurbanne - as were Liverpool. But the intervention of Aulas (who else?) thwarted the Gunners. The OL president stepping in personally to convince Aouar and his family the best career choice would be to stay. And seeing the OL production line roll out the likes of Karim Benzema, Hatem Ben Arfa, Nabil Fékir, Samuel Umtiti, Maxime Gonalons and Alexandre Lacazette... it was an easy argument for Aulas to make.

But seven years on, Arsenal, despite the recent huge turnover in staff, are now close to getting their man. Key, of course, has been Arteta's insistence.

Some sources in France claim Aouar is somewhat deflated by the prospect. That he, when first seriously considering splitting from OL, was shooting for higher than Arsenal. But others, significantly those closest to Aouar, are adamant the Gunners - and Arteta - offer the midfielder the perfect destination for this stage in his career.

At London Colney, Aouar will walk into a dressing room dominated by French speakers - including the Brazilians. The pressure and expectations at Arsenal these days are also less than what would confront Aouar at a Champions League club. And most significantly, he'll find himself working for a manager who knows him inside-out - and has long wanted him as part of his midfield.

Indeed, again those sources close to the player say Arteta sees Aouar as his primary 'transitional player'. In other words, Arteta wants Aouar on the ball as much as possible. As Armand Garrido, Aouar's former France U17 coach, says: "He's someone who 'cleans the ball' as they say. We give him a ball that is not always very good, he will make a quality pass with it."

Arteta wants to play his game through the Frenchman. It may be a different role to how he was employed by Rudi Garcia, the OL coach. But it's one many in France believe Aouar will eventually grow into.

Deschamps, for one, stated earlier this summer: "Aouar is a player with great dribbling and passing ability.

"In use, it is true that he is rather versatile. He is an attacking midfielder who can be axial, or even on the wing. Where he is the most efficient today is still in the attacking phase, rather than in the defensive phase even if he's made progress on that too."

Garrido, again, is convinced Aouar boasts the necessary qualities to run a midfield - no matter the level. He says: “Houssem is a boy who has exceptional technical qualities. He has a strong sense of the game. He sweats football. He also has a good mind. He's a competitor. His game has not changed. It's evolved. He's still a very clean player.

"It is beautiful to watch him play."

And it's not just those in the dugout whom admire Aouar. The midfielder can also count on the admiration of his fellow pros.

Ander Herrera, PSG's former Manchester United midfielder, declared Aouar "one of the best playing in France". Benzema, of Real Madrid, says, "I like little Aouar. He sees the game well. If he works hard, he'll go far".

And Sivasspor's attacking midfielder Fayçal Fajr, a veteran of both the LaLiga and Ligue Une, has also stated: "Of course, he's not at his level right now. He still has to work but everything he did against us reminded me of my confrontations with (Andres) Iniesta when I played in Spain."

Of course, Arsenal and Arteta don't need to count on such endorsements. They've done their homework. In Aouar, they see a player to build a midfield - if not a team - around. For Arteta, this is the midfielder that brings it all together. A player, as Garrido says, who makes those around him look better.

"Houssem is decisive in the big matches," says OL's sporting director Juninho Pernambucano, "I call him 'crack'. It is a Portuguese word used in Brazil to designate a great player."

A sentiment likely repeated during those first discussions between Edu and the soon departing City coach Arteta all those months ago.