Sign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter
David Bentley has announced he is to retire from football aged just 29.
The former winger, who earned seven England caps between 2007 and 2008, broke down in tears live on Sky Sports when calling an end to his 12-year career.
Bentley admitted he had fallen out of love with the game, which had become "a bit boring" to the former Arsenal, Blackburn and Tottenham man.
"No regrets, I've enjoyed every moment of it with a smile on my face," he said. "The game's changed a lot. It's different. When I first started it was enjoyment.
"Now it's a little bit robotic, the social media side of things... it's made it boring.
"It made it calculated. To sign another three or four years into that... it's not really an option for me. It's gone a little bit sour for me."
Show all 11 1 /11Tottenham v Arsenal: The best north London derbies - in pictures Tottenham v Arsenal: The best north London derbies - in pictures Tottenham Hotspur 1 Arsenal 0, 1992 It was Teddy Sheringham's (right) first north London derby and, unsurprisingly, all attention was focused on the striker. It was also the first north London derby of the newly-formed Premier League. Yet it was not Sheringham who grabbed the headlines but Paul Allen, who scored the only goal of the game.
GETTY IMAGES
Tottenham v Arsenal: The best north London derbies - in pictures Tottenham 2 Arsenal 2, 2004 2004 was Arsenal's 'invincible' season, and on top of that, they clinched the title at White Hart Lane. Arsenal were 2-0 up thanks to goals from Patrick Vieira and Robert Pires. Robbie Keane scored Tottenham's equaliser from the penalty spot to give the Gunners a late scare but there was no stopping this formidable Arsenal team.
GETTY IMAGES
Tottenham v Arsenal: The best north London derbies - in pictures Tottenham 3 Arsenal 1, 1991 This was the first FA Cup semi-final played between the two sides. Spurs midfielder Paul Gascoigne (pictured) scored a memorable free kick from 30 yards out and Gary Lineker doubled the lead. Alan Smith pulled Arsenal back into the showdown but Lineker was on target once more to seal Tottenham's place in the Final, which they won the following month. Gazza's comment after the match was, "I'm off to get measured for me soot! Yes!"
GETTY IMAGES
Tottenham v Arsenal: The best north London derbies - in pictures Tottenham 0 Arsenal 1, 1971 2004 was not the first time Arsenal won the title on their rivals soil. Arsenal went into the game needeing a win or a goalless draw to take the title and they got their reward when, with three minutes to go, Ray Kennedy headed home to secure the title. The Gunners went on to lift the FA Cup that season.
GETTY IMAGES
Tottenham v Arsenal: The best north London derbies - in pictures Arsenal 1 Tottenham Hotspur 1, 1995 This match was billed as the battle of the strikers with Jurgen Klinsmann (pictured) and Ian Wright both chasing 30 goals for the season. Arsenal's frontman was on 29, while Tottenham's German striker had 27. Both men scored but the points were shared. Klinsmann was named football writers Footballer of the Year that season.
GETTY IMAGES
Tottenham v Arsenal: The best north London derbies - in pictures Tottenham 2-3 Arsenal, 1988 All five goals in this entertaining derby came in the space of 12 first-half minutes. The best of the lot was the first, scored by Nigel Winterburn (pictured). Tony Adams went on a 40-yard run up the park before laying off a sublime through-ball to Winterburn who slipped it into the bottom corner. Chris Waddle brought things level for Spurs before two more for Arsenal, one from Brian Marwood and the other an Alan Smith header. Paul Gascoigne clawed one back, scoring with his sock after losing his shoe as he ran in on goal but it wasn't enough as Arsenal stopped the madness and held on for 3-2.
GETTY IMAGES
Tottenham v Arsenal: The best north London derbies - in pictures Arsenal 2 Tottenham Hotspur 1, 2001 Sol Campbell had given Tottenham an added incentive ahead of the FA Cup semi-final against Arsenal by revealing that he was almost certain to stay at the club if they lifted the trophy. Yet it was not to be. The Gunners dominated the tie at Old Trafford, in what was Glenn Hoddle's first match in charge. Robert Pires scored the winner and we all know where Campbell ended up.
GETTY IMAGES
Tottenham v Arsenal: The best north London derbies - in pictures Tottenham Hotspur 0 Arsenal 5, 1978 Despite the 'boring' tag they acquired under George Graham, Arsenal, especially during Liam Brady's era, used to win some games in style, and none more so than this one. The man-of-the match was hat-trick hero Alan Sunderland (pictured), but the game is better remembered for a classic Brady strike. The Irishman tackled a Spurs defender on the edge of the penalty area, stood up, and unleashed a fierce, curling shot into the top corner.
GETTY IMAGES
Tottenham v Arsenal: The best north London derbies - in pictures Arsenal 4 Tottenham Hotspur 4, 2008 In one of Harry Redknapp's first games in charge he faced the daunting task of a trip to the Emirates. A memorable long-range strike from David Bentley got things underway but Arsenal were cruising at 4-2 on the cusp of extra-time. When Clichy slipped, Jenas ran 30 yards before curling a magnificent left-footed shot past Almunia to make it 4-3 and one of the greatest games in Premier League history was sealed when Luka Modric hit the post with a dipping volley and Lennon raced in to score the equaliser.
GETTY IMAGES
Tottenham v Arsenal: The best north London derbies - in pictures Tottenham Hotspur 1 Arsenal 2, 1987 This match was the culmination of an epic League Cup semi-final encounter that took 270 minutes to complete. The first leg ended in a 1-0 Spurs victory at Highbury and the second a 2-1 defeat, so another match was needed to determine who would meet Liverpool in the final. A toss of the coin decided that it was to be played at White Hart Lane, but, once again, Spurs failed to make the home advantage count and lost out to a last gasp goal from David Rocastle (right).
GETTY IMAGES
Tottenham v Arsenal: The best north London derbies - in pictures Arsenal 5 Tottenham Hotspur 2, 2012 With both sides desperately trying to secure a top-four finish, this clash had a lot resting on it. Arsenal came back after conceding two early goals to be level at half time before storming to a sensational win in the second half. The result appeared to affect Spurs who eventually slipped behind Arsenal in the league table and missed out on Champions League qualification as a result of Chelsea's European success.
Getty Images
Bentley, once tipped to be David Beckham's replacement in the England side, cost Spurs £15m in 2008 but despite a memorable goal in the north London derby, his form quickly suffered and he was linked with an exit from White Hart Lane in just a year.
Bentley has not played a game since 2013 but admits he has no regrets about his career.
"Life's full of ifs and buts, but I'm happy with the way my career went. There were some highs and some lows."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies