Arsenal hero Nacho Monreal announces his retirement and admits "I cannot continue!"

.Former Arsenal defender Nacho Monreal has announced his retirement from football after recent injury issues.

The Spanish international spent six years with the Gunners, joining in 2013 and leaving at the end of Unai Emery's first season in charge. He has spent the last three years at Real Sociedad, but missed the entirety of last season due to a knee issue.

Monreal, 36, shared a retirement announcement on Instagram, thanking his former clubs and the Spanish FA for their role in his career. In the same clip, he hinted at a fresh start after hanging up his boots.

"36 years playing football. 16 as a professional. Squeezing my body and taking it to limits that I would never have imagined," Monreal wrote.

"My knee sends me a message… loud and clear; I cannot continue! Do I get mad? NO! I listen to it and accept the situation and thank it for everything. A stage is over. Another starts. I'm happy and feeling good. One more time… I FEEL GOOD!!! And that gives me peace of mind."

It marks the end of a career which saw Monreal play 450 club career games and more than 550 in all competitions. He also won 22 Spain caps, scoring once for his country in 2016.

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