Alex Scott has written a note to fans after announcing her decision to retire from playing at the end of this season.

The right-back has spent 20 years with the Gunners across three spells, if you include her youth career, and has worked her way up to captain the side.

After such a long time, it’s no surprise that she has developed such a strong attachment to the club, as admits in her note, saying (via Arsenal.com): “I love this club with all my heart and I have always dreaded the day that I had to make this decision, I know in my heart the time is right to pass on my responsibilities as a captain and as player to the next crop of hugely talented players we have here at the club.

“I have managed to achieve so much as a player here, but I am immensely proud of the work we have done away from the field. We have always been the driving force for women’s football in this country, our name and the club is known around the world, and it has been ‘us’ at Arsenal that set the standards for other clubs to follow.

“I have given my all, I have won all there is to win, and I have done it all with a smile and a love for a place that I have always called home! I will carry on giving my all for this team until the end of the season as we fight together for more silverware. Thank you to you all for your amazing support.”

Scott has been part of one of the most successful periods of Arsenal’s history, if not the most.

She’s won five Premier League National Division titles, one WSL, three WSL Cups, seven FA Cups, the Champions League, two Community Shields and two Premier League Cups. The Gunners are still the only English club to win the Women’s Champions League, and they did so in a quadruple-winning year that was always going to be difficult to top.

Having also retired from international duty earlier this year, Alex should be fully focused on trying to make this a memorable final season. But whatever happens from now until the end of the campaign, she’s given two decades to this club and clearly has us in her heart, so thank you Alex!