Former Arsenal midfielder Ray Parlour has admitted that he was "gutted" when he heard that Jack Wilshere had left the club to join West Ham United.

Wilshere ended his 17-year Arsenal career last week after failing to be given the assurances he was after by new manager Unai Emery, leaving on a free transfer at the end of his contract.

Arsenal's London rivals West Ham quickly snapped up the England international on a three-year deal, and Parlour praised Wilshere for pursuing regular first-team football rather than taking the easy option to stay at the Emirates Stadium.

"Jack Wilshere has made a big decision and it was his to make. He met the manager and realised he might have been third or fourth in the pecking order. As a player who has missed so much football, he needs to play," Parlour is quoted as saying by PA.

"I'm gutted that he's left because I would love to see him still in an Arsenal shirt, but I'm really pleased he's gone to a club to play football because there is nothing worse than training hard all week and then sitting in the stands.

"West Ham have got a very good signing there. We always look at his fitness record, but if he can stay fit we all know how good he is. That is what West Ham have to manage now.

"He is going to be their main man in midfield and will get a lot of game time. He is a magnificent player - there are only two players I've seen as youngsters come straight through to the first team that I have thought, 'These are going to be top, top stars'. One was Jack and the other Cesc Fabregas."

Despite being part of the Arsenal first team for a decade, injuries limited Wilshere to just 197 senior appearances for the club.