Arsenal and England legend Kenny Sansom is to enter rehabilitation in a desperate bid to beat the alcohol addiction that is ruining his life.

Sansom, 56, played for Arsenal for nine years during the 1980's and held the record for the number of caps for an England national team full-back until overtaken by Ashley Cole in February 2011.

Friends, fans and colleagues rallied round the ex-footballer after images showed him drunk in a park and he admitted: "I need help" in an open and honest interview with the Sunday Mirror.

He will now spend up to a month in a rehab clinic getting treatment with the help of the Professional Footballers' Association.

PFA head of player welfare Michael Bennett said: "We've supported Kenny in the past and will continue to help him in any way we can."