Gunners legend set to hang up his boots

12:41pm Tuesday 8th July 2008

ARSENAL midfield legend Ray Parlour says that it is more than likely he will have to call time on his 16 year playing career.

The 35-year-old played his last professional game for Hull City in the 2006/07 season and had hoped to secure a deal at Barnet for next season.

However, a knee injury has set back his plans and Parlour has said that it looks as if the curtain is closing on his illustrious career.

"You do miss it. Especially day-to-day banter and playing games on Saturday," Parlour told BBC London.

"Your bonus is Saturday, walking around the stadium with the crowd and the atmosphere. You do miss it, it's impossible not to."

Parlour hasn't yet decided if he will go into coaching but if he does he may look for a position at Arsenal, a club he still admits to loving.

He added: "I'm very privileged to have at Arsenal during my career.

"I follow them quite a lot and I over to the training ground quite a bit and still watch games.

"I like to keep involved because it is such a great club.

"I was there for many years, I signed when I was a 12-year-old and left at 32. So 20 years of your life is a long time. I'll always have them in my heart."

The ex-England international made 339 appearancse for the Gunners before moving to Middlesbrough and then Hull.

He won three Premier League titles, four FA Cups, one League Cup and one European Cup Winners' Cup while at Highbury.

The dynamic midfielder will be best remembered by Gunners fans for his sensational 30-yard strike against Chelsea in the 2002 FA Cup final.

That was the opening goal of the final which Arsenal won 2-0 to take the trophy back to north London.