Alan Shearer praises Ian Wright for making 'life a joy' as the Arsenal legend prepares to step back from Match of the Day... with the Newcastle icon claiming his Saturdays will now be 'much much quieter'

Alan Shearer hailed Ian Wright after the England and Arsenal legend announced he would be stepping away from his punditry duties on BBC hit show Match of the Day.

Wright announced on Sunday that he would end his 26-year association with the show at the conclusion of the current Premier League season and explained he felt 'very privileged' to have been part of it for so long.

Gary Lineker, Shearer and Wright have been iconic presenters on the weekend football show, with the former Gunners striker the first to leave the MOTD trio.

Explaining the moment Wright told him that he would be leaving, Shearer praised his colleague and gave a fascinating insight into their long-standing friendship.

Writing in The Athletic, Shearer stated: '[Wednesday] I picked him up from the airport, we had breakfast at his hotel and then I met him again in the pub a few hours later. 

'It was only afterwards that I appreciated how much I’d been looking forward to it and perhaps this, ultimately, is the best compliment I can pay my longstanding colleague on Match of the Day.

'Wrighty, if you’re reading this, you make life a joy,' he added.

'It was over the course of his trip that he told me he’d be stepping back from Match of the Day come the end of the season.

'We'll still work together on the Premier League, but my Saturdays certainly won’t be the same. For a start, they will be much, much quieter,' said Shearer.

Tributes from supporters poured in for the 60-year-old after he announced his decision to depart on social media.

Part of Wright's initial statement read: 'After my debut show whilst still a player in 1997 and many more memorable years, I’ll be stepping back from BBC MOTD at the end of this season. 

'I feel very privileged to have had such an incredible run on the most iconic football show in the world.'

Shearer continued to laud his former opponent's impact on the show's production and insisted there was never a concern of energy levels dropping when Wright was on set.

'You get to the studios in plenty of time for the 12.30pm kick-off, you’re still there 12 hours later and the danger is you feel tired and drained just at the moment you’re supposed to come alive on camera. 

'There’s never a chance of that with Wrighty around. The days feel so much shorter, because you’re giggling and taking the p*** out of each other. And he gets so into the matches, particularly when Arsenal are playing. It flies by,' he added.