Only Leicester City striker Jamie Vardy, with 19, has scored more Premier League goals in 2019-2020 than Aubameyang, who netted 22 times last season to become one of the three players to win a golden boot.

The striker's form has led to suggestions Manchester United, Real Madrid and Paris Saint-Germain could try to lure the 30-year-old away from north London once the transfer window opens.

Alexis Sanchez, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Robin van Persie are among the leading players to have departed in recent seasons, and Adams fears Aubameyang, whose deal expires next year, could follow suit.

"Quite possibly, he could walk out the door," Adams said.

"I loved Arsene Wenger's principles, that no player was bigger than the club, and he moved players on if it made sense for the club financially.

"He was strong with that and he got Champions League football every year but it did stand in the way of recruitment - so we have become a club that is selling the best players.

"If I was a coach I'd be saying, 'Don't sell Aubameyang at any price, we need to recruit, bring players through the academy and keep our best players'."

Adams cited how during his time at the club, Thierry Henry, Dennis Bergkamp and Patrick Vieira were among those brought in and retained.

The 2003-2004 'Invincibles' won the most recent of the club's 13 league titles, and Adams insists Arsenal will not be able to challenge again if it continues to cash in on its best players.

"It is a completely different club today and I think recruitment at Arsenal for a good few years has not been great," Adams added.

"Now we seem to be selling our best players and you are never going to recruit a championship squad selling all your best players."