The 30-year-old played 197 times for the club between 2008 and 2016, scoring 14 times but has now called time on a career that saw him become a star for club and country and represent the club with distinction.
Speaking on Twitter today, he said: “Today I am announcing my retirement from playing professional football.
“It has been an unbelievable journey filled with so many incredible moments and I feel privileged to have experienced all that I did during my career. From being the little boy kicking a ball around in the garden to captaining my beloved Arsenal and playing for my country at a World Cup. I have lived my dream.”
As part of his farewell message, Wilshere also thanked numerous Arsenal staff members, including: “Words will never do justice to the love and thanks I have for the Boss, Arsene, Pat Rice and Boro Primorac. Without your belief, support and guidance from the very first day we met I wouldn’t have been able to become part of the Arsenal family.
“I’m forever grateful to you all. A huge thank you to the board, management and everyone else connected with Arsenal FC. Having joined the club at the age of 7 years old you’ve become my extended family and thank you for everything.”
And there was also a touching tribute to our supporters, as Wilshere added: “To the best supporters on the planet, all of you Arsenal fans, thank you all from the bottom of my heart. To play for you all has been a privilege. You’ve always made me feel supported and I hope I did you proud representing your club. I’ll never forget how you always backed me and I’ll forever be a Gooner.”
A product of our academy, Wilshere’s time at the club began aged nine, and after impressing as part of our 2008/09 FA Youth Cup-winning side, he became our youngest-ever league player when making his debut against Blackburn Rovers in 2008, aged 16 years 256 days, and further records would tumble as became the youngest player to represent the club in European football a few months later.
He won back-to-back FA Cups with the club in 2013 and 2014, and individual accolades also came his way in the form of the PFA Young Player of the Year in 2010/11 – a campaign that also saw him named in their Team of the Year and claim our Player of the Year award.
He also won the BBC Match of the Day Goal of the Season award in both 2014 and 2015, the former coming as he capped off a wonderful team move against Norwich City.
