Wiltooooooooord Retires

Beneath the avalanche of coverage Euro 2012 is receiving, a typically quiet man made a quiet decision that should be recognised by Arsenal fans everywhere. Ex Gunners striker Sylvain Wiltord announced his retirement from playing at the age of 38. Wiltord joined Arsenal in the summer of 2000 in a controversial £13m move from Bordeaux, with the Frenchman going on strike to force the transfer through. Wiltord stayed at Arsenal for the duration of his contract until the summer of 2004, when he left on a free to Olympique Lyonnais.

Wiltord won 2 league titles and 2 F.A. Cups in his four year stay and will be most fondly remembered for his winning goal at Old Trafford in May 2002 to help Arsenal seal the League Championship. I must confess that, during his time at the club, he wasn`t my favourite player- I referred to him as 'Circles` due to his penchant for running around in them), but operating either as a striker or as a winger, he came up with vital goals. He scored 49 in 173 Gunners appearances. Wiltord was also a member of the famed 'Invincibles` side, though he did not feature much in that season. The Frenchman also won Euro 2000 with his country, as well as a Ligue 1 title with Bordeaux and three with Lyon and was voted in at number 33 in Arsenal`s 50 Greatest Players of All Time.

Sylvain also represented Stade de Rennais, Olympique Marseilles and Metz before joining his final club Rennes. Just to make you all feel incredibly old, the members of the Invincibles squad now retired reads as Jens Lehmann, Patrick Vieira, Martin Keown, Dennis Bergkamp, Sylvain Wiltord, Lauren, Ray Parlour, Edu, Pascal Cygan and Sol Campbell. Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg are not officially retired, but are currently without clubs. Wow. LD.

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