Former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit has urged Mikel Arteta's side to not even attempt to sign Paris Saint-Germain forward Kylian Mbappe.
Mbappe has established himself as one of the world's best players in recent years, netting 200 goals and providing a further 95 assists in just 246 outings for PSG, as per Transfermarkt. Real Madrid have always been mooted as a potential destination for the French international and Petit has told the Gunners to forget about ever trying to bring his compatriot to the Emirates Stadium.
Speaking to Premier League Odds, Petit said: "Arsenal should not go for Kylian Mbappe. The only club that can entice Mbappe right now, and probably ever, is Real Madrid."
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Petit did tell his former side to focus on signing one player in particular this summer in the form of West Ham United captain Declan Rice. "I'm a big fan of Declan Rice. It is time for him to leave West Ham and play at a higher level to reach his potential", the ex-Arsenal midfielder added.
"He needs to play in important competitions every single season if he wants to improve and move on to the next stage. I think that he is struggling at West Ham and he does not have a good environment to adapt and improve.
"I'm also still a big fan of (Alexis) Mac Allister and (Moises) Caicedo from Brighton, since I first saw them play. I know Arsenal won't try and buy them all, but they would also fit next to Rice really well.
"It also wouldn't be much of a big move, geographically, for Rice as he is located in London with West Ham, so the move won't hurt too much. But with all due respect to West Ham, it is time for Rice to go.
"It reminds me of Lampard when he first left West Ham and went to Chelsea and look what he achieved for himself. He became one of the best midfielders in the world at Chelsea. Rice should follow his example and leave given Arsenal are ready to buy him."
football.london reported earlier this year that Rice remains the Gunners' priority target ahead of the summer transfer window.
The England international has made it no secret of his desire to play in the UEFA Champions League sooner rather than later, a competition that the north Londoners will most likely be in considering they currently sit 14 points above fifth-placed Newcastle United.
“One hundred per cent I want to play in the Champions League,” Rice said back in December while at the World Cup with England.
“For the last two or three years I’ve been saying that. I’ve been playing consistently well for my club and I feel like I really want to keep pushing.
"I see my friends here who are playing Champions League and for big trophies. You only get one career and at the end you want to look back at what you’ve won and the biggest games you’ve played in.”
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