Jamie Carragher likens Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang situation to Luis Suarez at Liverpool

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta faces a similar dilemma over Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to the one that Liverpool used to have over Luis Suarez, according to Jamie Carragher.

Aubameyang is out of contract at the Emirates Stadium at the end of next season, meaning that if he doesn't sign a new one then the Gunners could either sell him for a fee this summer or lose him for free next year.

But Carragher insists that the Gabonese forward is "too good" for the Gunners, and so it makes little sense to let him leave to try and rebuild without him.

Liverpool famously nearly lost Suarez to Arsenal in the summer of 2013, but after keeping him at the club he almost shot them to Premier League glory before leaving for Barcelona in 2014.

“Towards the end of my career [Liverpool] were in this situation quite a lot where you're just missing out on the top four,” Carragher told Sky Sports.

Aubameyang could left the Gunners either this summer or next (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

“It's okay saying we have rules in place and saying we never let players go on a Bosman ruling, but if you're Mikel Arteta I would be looking at it and thinking: have we got more of a chance – even if he goes for nothing next year – of getting to the Champions League before next season if Aubameyang stays?

“That's the decision they've got to make. At this stage, there's no doubt about it: Aubameyang is too good for Arsenal. We had that at Liverpool at times with Luis Suarez and certain players you're desperate to keep hold of.

Carragher played with Suarez at Liverpool (Getty)

“You're thinking as a club that you want to build around this player and if that player goes, you almost feel like you're starting again. That's the problem you have when you're trying to get back into the top four and establish yourself as Arsenal are trying to do.

“That'll be a decision for them. It's okay saying, 'if he doesn't want to be there then let him go', but it's not easy when you're at a club and have a player with such star quality who is probably nailed on every season to be there or thereabouts for the Golden Boot.

“It's not easy to find goalscorers. I'd keep him – he gives Arsenal a greater chance of getting into the top four.”