Alan Shearer has said that Arsenal must not even consider selling star striker Robin van Persie.

The Dutchman is currently four league goals from breaking Shearer's record of scoring 36 times in a calendar year, yet continues to be linked away from the Emirates Stadium.

"To Arsenal, he is simply invaluable because his goals have been so productive in terms of games won," Shearer wrote for The Sun.

"For them to even consider selling Van Persie would be unthinkable and I am sure Arsenal will be doing all they can to get him to sign an extended contract.

"There will be no shortage of takers if he does decide to leave because his reputation has soared so much in the last 12 months."

Van Persie has scored 81 league goals in 171 appearances for Arsenal since arriving at the club in 2003.