“I have known James Rodriguez from when he played for Monaco and I think he is a very good attacking midfielder,” Petit told the Mirror.

“I believe he is a proper number ten, I like him in the middle of the park controlling the game. He has this quality – it’s a mix of [Cesc] Fabregas and Isco – and I think he would be a very good signing for Arsenal.”

Arsenal have also been linked with Barcelona midfielder, Denis Suarez, who worked with Gunners boss Unai Emery during his time with Sevilla.

But Petit has said that if he were in charge, he would pick Rodriguez over the Spaniard.

He added: “If I had to choose between them [Rodriguez and Suarez] – knowing the situation with Ramsey – Arsenal definitely need an attacking midfielder and need to get a player who has the personality to direct a game and not hide all the time.

“I think James Rodriguez is one of them.”

Ramsey’s Juventus move is a ‘mistake’, according to Petit

Petit, who won the league and FA Cup double with Arsenal during his playing days, also believes Ramsey is making a ‘mistake’ by moving to Juventus.

The Frenchman believes Ramsey should be staying in the Premier League, which he believes is ‘the best in the world’.

“I don’t want to be negative but I don’t know why he is going to Juventus, honestly,” The 48-year-old added.

“Serie A? It is not the Premier League guys. The Premier League is the best in the world, it is the most competitive championship.

“You see it every year, you have three or four teams fighting for the title. You don’t see that in Italy, in Spain, or France or wherever so I think he is making a mistake.”