After confirming on Monday that he would be leaving Arsenal to become head of physiotherapy with England, TheFA.com spoke to Gary Lewin as he looks back on a career with the Gunners, and ahead to his new role with the Three Lions.

Having started his football career on the playing staff at Highbury as an apprentice goalkeeper, Lewin returned in 1983 with his physiotherapy qualifications and has been at the club ever since, and admits it has been a tough decision to leave.

"I've been at Arsenal all my working life, so it's going to be very strange leaving." Lewin told TheFA.com.

"I have a lot memories here at Arsenal and a lot of friends, and it was really important to me that I left in the right manner. The club have been very good to me, they have shown what a great club they are in the way they have been to me as I prepare to leave.

"They have let me leave with their blessing, they are sad to see me go but send me off with their best wishes that I can be a success with my role with England.

"I was aware of the job coming up for several months, but it has only really been in the last couple of weeks as the interviews come around that I have had to make a decision, and looking at the job specification I really couldn't turn it down.

"It's probably the only thing that would have made me leave Arsenal."

Having been involved with England since 1996, Lewin has many memories with the Three Lions and wants to create new ones in the coming years.

Lewin admitted: "One of my greatest disappointments was losing to Portugal in the World Cup quarter-final, because we had a genuine belief in the squad that we could go on to win the World Cup.

"I went into that tournament on a part-time basis, so I could only really put my heart and soul into the job when the squad was together.

"My new role will allow me to put my heart and soul into the job for 24 hours a day, seven days a week. That preparation is continuous all the way through the season, I can work with the clubs I can work with the players, as well as getting expertise in sports medicine from other areas and other sports."

Looking back on his time at Arsenal Lewin has seen huge changes in the work he does, and believes that evolution will only continue in the future.

"The changes are dramatic, and it's evolving all the time.

"Looking back to 1986 at Arsenal there was George Graham as manager, Theo Foley as assistant manager, we had a full-time kitman and a part-time Doctor - and that was it. Now the staff is well into double figures so it has completely changed.

"Arsene has obviously brought new ideas into Arsenal, and he along with many other managers coming to England have brought new approaches.

"What you find now is that players who were part of that change moving into coaching are bringing those ideas to the forefront even more."

Despite the sadness at leaving the club he has worked at for his entire professional life, Lewin is also driven by enthusiasm for the opportunity that he will be taking on with England.

Lewin explained: "There are many exciting things about the job I am coming into, it's giving me the licence to go around Europe and the World, and to other sports, to find the best working practices. I can then bring them back, not only to England, but also back into the clubs.

"That was the most exciting and attractive part of the job. I know what it's like when you work at a football club, it can be quite intense and also quite lonely.

"The opportunity to get expertise from outside can be quite difficult, but The FA are very keen for me to go into clubs and help them in any way I can. That's a really exciting part of the job."

Lewin has also been impressed by Fabio Capello since the Italian took charge of England.

"He's made it very clear to everybody how he wants to work, and I think he will take the team forward very quickly.

"We're all looking forward to starting the competitive matches next season and hopefully qualifying for the World Cup - that is our goal."