Former Arsenal and France midfielder Robert Pires has announced that he has officially retired from football.

Pires, who has opted to hang up his boots at the age of 42, played for six clubs during a 22-year career in the sport.

The Frenchman played for Metz and Marseille before joining Arsenal, where he won two Premier League titles and three FA Cups during a six-year spell with the North London outfit.

After leaving the Gunners in 2006, Pires spent four years at Spanish side Villarreal and then short stints at Aston Villa and Indian outfit FC Goa.

On the international stage, the midfielder helped France win the 1998 World Cup, as well as the 2000 European Championship and two Confederations Cups.

"I'm 42 years old so some time must stop," Pires told beIN Sports. "We must say stop and above all must give way to young. My last experience was in India."

Pires is the final player from France's World Cup-winning squad to retire.