West Ham midfielder Jack Wilshere concedes his departure from Arsenal was a drawn out affair.

Wilshere, 28, called time on his 17-year association with the Gunners upon the expiry of his contract, having joined the club's academy setup at the age of nine.

"I felt like it went on forever because the discussions probably started in February and then we got to a point where I was going to sign it," he told the Gunners' In Lockdown podcast.

“I wanted to stay at the club, I love the club, I knew everyone at the club, I felt like it was my family and then Arsene left so that dragged on.

“They didn't announce (Unai) Emery for a while and the club was going in a different direction.

“I had conversations with my dad, my family, my wife, my agent around that time about waiting to see who came in [as manager]. To see if he liked me because of the way the contract was set up.

“It seemed like it went on for it forever and then as soon as Emery said to me, 'Look, you're not in my starting XI', I was like, 'Okay, right, I need to leave'.

“It was very difficult as I said, it felt like Arsenal was my family.

“I was part of Arsenal, it's a massive club and I was a big part of it, it was difficult.

“It was a sad time to leave and even now I look back and think, 'Yeah, that was a tough time'."