Arsenal legend Ian Wright has admitted star striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang deserves to be at a better team.

The Arsenal captain will have just 12 months left on his current deal in the summer, and was linked with moves to Inter Milan and Barcelona in January.

The Gabon international - who earlier this week claimed he is 'happy' at Arsenal amid talk surrounding his future - has however seen little reward for his 20 goals this season.

Ian Wright believes Arsenal striker and captain Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang deserves better

Aubameyang has scored 20 goals this season for Arsenal but will have a year left this summer

The Gunners remain a long way from Premier League contention, and once again look set to miss out on qualification for next season's Champions League, with the north Londoners currently sitting ninth in the Premier League table.

That puts Mikel Arteta's side eight points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, and in doubt of reaching the Europa League due to Wolves and Sheffield United having excellent seasons.

And Wright - who scored 185 goals for the Gunners in 288 appearances in a seven-year spell at the club - believes that Arsenal's 'world-class goalscorer' should be competing for the biggest prizes, but hopes he will extend his contract at Emirates Stadium.

The 30-year-old striker was linked with moves to Inter Milan and Barcelona in January

'If you can imagine him in a better team, he would be winning Premier Leagues and vying for places in Champions League finals and I think he deserves that,' Wright told Premier League Productions.

'You don't see him particularly vocal on the pitch, [no] pointing and screaming, but it's what he does in respect of his leadership with the goals that he scores.

'If you take his goals out of that team then they're in a massive heap of trouble. Arsenal need a few more players to kick in with their form to help him.

And Wright maintains that the striker faces a difficult decision in this summer's window

'We're talking about a goalscorer who is scoring at the rate of a Champions League player, a world-class goalscorer.

AUBAMEYANG STATS Appearances (this season): 32 Goals: 20 Assists: 1 Minutes played: 2,711 (Stats according to transfermarkt) Advertisement

'We're talking about the last big contract in his career. I just hope that the love that he has for the club and the fans have for him is enough for him but I wouldn't want to be in his position because it's a tough one for him.'

Aubameyang - who now has 61 goals in just 96 Arsenal appearances - has so far given no indication that he is looking for a move away from north London.

Despite current negotiations between the clubs at loggerheads at present, the 30-year-old told Arsenal's official website: 'It means a lot (to play here). When I was younger I used to watch Arsenal because they always had great players and they won trophies as well.

'I think it is really a pleasure to be here, I am really happy - that's my feeling.'

But Wright hopes Aubameyang's love for Arsenal will see him extend despite their position

As revealed by Sportsmail though, Aubameyang's £300,000-a-week wage demands are likely to force Arsenal to sell him this summer.

The Gabon striker's demands represent more than a 30 per cent increase on his existing deal, which would have netted him £200,000 a week if he met every bonus target, an impossibility given Arsenal are ninth and have just the FA Cup to go for.

Arsenal will struggle to afford such a contract so are increasingly resigned to selling Aubameyang at the end of the season.