Arsenal have been warned that they could see a mass exodus of players if they don't change their approach in the transfer market.
The Gunners are looking to tie down Emile Smith Rowe to a long-term contract amid mounting interest from Aston Villa.
The playmaker is reportedly weighing up his options with the north Londoners in a rebuild phase.
Emmanuel Petit is concerned that Arsenal are not showing enough ambition in the market however.
The Gunners endured a poor season, finishing eighth, and Smith Rowe will want to know what the club's long-term vision is before making his next move.
“He will have had some questions in his mind and I hope Arsenal gave him the answers he was expecting in terms of the transfer market and ambitions for next season," Petit told Metro.
“If this season is the same season we’ve seen from Arsenal for the last couple of years, forget it. They’re going to lose so many players at the end of the season.”
Arsenal were able to convince Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to stay put last summer.
However for the past decade their top stars have continued to seek pastures new in pursuit of regular silverware.
Petit insists it is on the club to show that they mean business otherwise players will question whether or not to move on.
The Gunners have not graced the Champions League since 2017 and are in danger of falling further behind the pack.
"As a club, you need to show your players that you are ambitious," he added.
“In terms of improvement, competition and ambition, it’s very important to send them a signal. Arsenal have been sliding down the table for five or six years.
“When is it going to finish? That means if I am an Arsenal player, I will be very conscious about what the club is doing in the market, who are the new players, who is leaving the club, and in the end I’ll make a conclusion.
“If the club is spending money on good players with character, maybe that shows they want to send a signal to the team that this season will be different to the last few seasons. That they want to get back to the level they were at before.
“Players will look at that and compare with other teams, then make a conclusion very easily. If Arsenal don’t have the team to compete for the Champions League positions, it’s going to be the same as last year and the year before.”
