Former Arsenal chairman Peter Hill-Wood has praised Arsene Wenger over his decision to step down at the end of this season.

Hill-Wood lured Wenger from Japan team Grampus 8, 22 years ago with the deal agreed with a handshake between the two.

He told the Daily Star: “I think he has made 100 per cent the right decision.

“He has given us a hell of a run, he has been frightfully successful and I thought it was time he stepped down. I think he has found a very sensible way of doing it.

“It is the right time and the right thing to do."

Wenger announced his surprise decision on Friday, despite having a year left on his contract.

“He is going as a hero," said Hill-Wood.

“If he hung around people would have gotten upset and he would have undone an awful lot of the good work he has done in the last 20 years, which would have been very sad."