Former Gunner Emmanuel Petit thinks Arsenal should be ‘aiming higher’ than players like Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Malcom.

Speaking to Paddy Power about the most recent transfer speculation, Petit said (via Daily Mail): “I wonder about the quality of players Arsenal have been signing. They’re struggling to bring in top-quality players, and to keep the ones they have.

“They must be more competitive on the market – times have changed since I left. There has been a lot of speculation about the likes of Aubameyang and Malcolm (sic) coming in but Arsenal should be aiming higher.”

Clearly the Gunners did decide to aim higher than the Malcom.

According to David Ornstein, the deal is off because Arsenal decided not to spend so much on such an inexperienced player. Perhaps Petit was right on that one then.

On Aubameyang, I don’t think it’s an understatement to say he’s talking complete rubbish.

In my opinion, the Gabon international is one of the best strikers in world football right now. Over the last two-and-a-half seasons, the Dortmund man has scored 106 goals and provided 20 assists in 118 club appearances.

This season, he scored three Champions League goals against Real Madrid, and one against Spurs. That’s despite Dortmund playing terribly for the entire campaign.

You could argue Madrid aren’t at their best, but they were last year (when they won the entire competition) and Aubameyang scored two in two against them then as well.

There’s no doubt he can perform in more than just the Bundesliga.

The 2016-17 Bundesliga Top Goalscorer won Player of the Year for the league in 2015-16. He won African Footballer of the Year in 2015 and made the CAF Team of the Year for four consecutive years between 2013 and 2016.

If Arsenal want a striker, there’s not much higher they could aim and hope to hit their target.