Arteta set to hang up his boots

Mikel Arteta said his substitute appearance in Arsenal’s win over Aston Villa was likely to be his last game as a professional footballer.

London - Arsenal captain Mikel Arteta said his substitute appearance in Sunday's 4-0 victory over Aston Villa was likely to be his last game as a professional footballer.

The 34-year-old, who is out of contract at the end of the season, brought down the curtain on his five-year stint with the club when his shot came back off Villa goalkeeper Mark Bunn in the 92nd minute to hand Arsenal their final goal of the night.

“I was very scared about this day because 99 percent, that was my last game as a professional footballer,” Arteta told the club's website.

“I have different options now to continue in relation to this magnificent sport.”

Arteta joined Arsenal in 2011 after six years at Everton and helped the Gunners end a nine-year trophy drought by winning successive FA Cups.

“I always tried... to do my best. Even if we had some difficult moments, at least we got this club back to winning ways again. We won some trophies,” he added.

Arsenal's defeat of Villa allowed them to pip bitter local rivals Tottenham Hotspur to second place in the table.

Along with Arteta, midfielders Tomas Rosicky and Mathieu Flamini will also leave the club in the close season.

Reuters