Former Arsenal star Ray Parlour believes the only way his old side will keep hold of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang is by finishing in the Champions League spots this season.
Aubameyang is the club's top goal-scorer this season with 17 Premier League goals and scored an additional 22 Premier League goals last season.
But the forward only has one year left on his Arsenal contract and there has been no breakthrough in negotiations over a new deal at the Emirates.
Both Barcelona and Inter Milan have been linked with the services of the Gabon international as a result of those breakdown in negotiations.
And Parlour believes his old club must finish in the top four this season if they are to keep hold of their star man.
"If they [Arsenal] can come back and hit the ground running and get a good start to the season, obviously the Man City game is going to be very important, if they can get anything out of that game that will give them a lot of confidence going forward," he told talkSPORT.
"Champions League football is so important for a lot of players these days so Aubameyang, if they can squeeze in there, might sign a new contract, I don’t know.
"If they don’t, then he might be on his way and suddenly you’ve got to replace a striker who scores all your goals."
While Parlour also added on Aubameyang last week: "I think you’ve got to sell him if he doesn’t sign a contract, and then take the money and try to replace him.
“It’s really difficult to keep a player if he doesn’t want to stay.
“It’s a big decision to make, but I don’t know what sort of money you could get for him if he doesn’t want to stay.
“That is the big decision the club have got to make, but hopefully he stays."
