An emotional Mikel Arteta believes it will be difficult for him to leave Arsenal.

The 34-year-old midfielder's five-year relationship with the club ended on Sunday in what was his last match as a professional player in the 4-0 victory over Aston Villa.

Club captain Arteta will leave the Emirates Stadium this summer at the completion of his contract and was full of praise for how he has been treated during his time in North London since making the move from Everton in 2011.

"It's a day I will never forget, I can only thank everyone for how you have all behaved with me and my family in those magnificent five years," he told arsenal.com.

"When you leave the club is when you see what you mean to people and how you feel about the club. My emotions and the way I feel about the people cannot be any better.

"I was very scared about this day because 99 per cent, that was my last game as a professional footballer. I can't even talk.

"I feel very honoured to play for this club and captain this place. This club is class and once you are here you never forget it.

"It's going to be hard for me to move on, but I really enjoyed today."

Arteta fired home Arsenal's fourth goal in off the bar before hitting Villa keeper Mark Bunn, and although it will go down as an own-goal, he was delighted to have made a contribution to a group of players he has experienced so much with.

"I couldn't write a better script probably," he added.

"The boys have been absolutely magnificent with me in the last two days. The things I've experienced will stay with me for the rest of my life. I always tried to look after them, to do my best.

"Even if we had some difficult moments, but at least we got this club back to winning ways again. We won some trophies.

"Also a big to thank you to the manager and the staff, for giving me this opportunity to say goodbye to the football world as a player. The way the supporters and the fans behaved with me, it's just how I feel.

"It's a dream come true."