Robert Pires: 'Arsenal have Adrien Rabiot advantage'

Former Arsenal attacker Robert Pires has claimed that the Gunners "have the advantage" when it comes to signing Adrien Rabiot due to Unai Emery's presence at the Emirates Stadium.

Rabiot has refused to sign a new deal with Paris Saint-Germain and will therefore be available on a free transfer in June, when his contract with the French champions expires.

A number of clubs - including Barcelona, Tottenham Hotspur and Liverpool - have been linked with the 23-year-old, who has not featured for PSG since December.

Arsenal are also believed to be in the hunt, though, and Pires has claimed that Gunners boss Emery, who managed Rabiot in France, could help the London club land the central midfielder.

"Rabiot is a very good player and Arsenal should be trying their best to secure his signature before any other club does," Pires told bwin.

"Arsenal have the advantage of Emery having already worked with him at PSG, which should hopefully sway Rabiot to join Arsenal.

"He would be worth a big fee on the transfer market so the fact he's free makes it a no-brainer. If Emery can secure Rabiot then I think he'll be able to fill the hole that will be left by [Aaron] Ramsey's departure."

Rabiot has made 227 appearances for PSG since debuting during the 2012-13 campaign.