Ian Wright reveals he was 'too short' to be a Stormtrooper in Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens

Gunners legend is two inches below minimum height allowed

File photo of former England footballer and ITV pundit Ian Wright, who is understood to have flown home from Brazil after his wife and children were burgled at knifepoint in London

Arsenal legend Ian Wright has revealed that he was 'too short' to be a Stormtrooper in the new Star Wars film.

The 51-year-old, Arsenal's second highest ever scorer with 185 goals for the club, wanted to be one of the extras in JJ Abrams' Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens.

But he revealed on BBC Radio 5 live that he didn't get the gig because of his height - Wright stands at 5ft 9in.

"I wanted to be a Stormtrooper in Star Wars but you have to be 5ft 11in and I was too short," he said on 606.

"Two of my friends got to do it."

Episode VII will pick up thirty years after the events of George Lucas’ Return of the Jedi in 1983. That movie ended with Darth Vader/Anakin Skywalker’s death, Leia being revealed as Luke’s sister and Han Solo finally getting together with Princess Leia.

Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Kenny Baker, Anthony Daniels, Mark Hamill and Peter Mayhew are all returning for the new movie which is scheduled for release on 18 December 2015.