Arsenal should be making Aaron Ramsey captain rather than letting him leave as a free agent at the end of the season.

That is according to former Gunners midfielder Jack Wilshere.

The north London club have pulled out of negotiations with Ramsey, who is being chased by Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Juventus.

But Wilshere, who joined West Ham this summer after also failing to negotiate an extension with Arsenal, believes his former club are making a mistake.

"He's [Ramsey] grown up to be a great player with Arsenal. They could do with someone like him. We know what he can do for the club," Wilshere told the Islington Gazette.

"For me he's a future Arsenal captain. I know he loves the club. It's difficult for me to comment on because I'm not there but I do know he's a great player – if it was me I know I would want to keep him around.

"He's a great guy to have around. He's been at the club so long and knows it inside out. If you look at what he's done for the club too.

"We went into the first team in the same year. He came from Cardiff and I came from the youth team. We automatically clicked because we were both young and new to that sort of environment."