Former Arsenal and England striker Ian Wright has praised the Premier League for deciding ‘what side of history they want to stand on’ after announcing their support for the Black Lives Matter movement.

For the first 12 games of football’s return players will wear shirts with ‘Black Lives Matter’ on the back of their shirts instead of their names.

It was a decision taken by the players after the Premier League handed them the initiative.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live, Wright said: "What the Premier League have done, is to give them the power.

“Wes Morgan and Troy Deeney, the way they've got that going with the rest of the captains, to give them that much power is a line in the sand for the Premier League about where they are going and on what side of history they want to stand."

While the Gunners legend was also quick to praise the positive signs now being shown through the BLM movement, he revealed there is much still to do. Just two weeks ago he was the victim of abuse due to the colour of his skin.

"As a 56-year-old black man, who not too long ago it happened to me again, we're in a time now where something's happening, something's changing and that's what's good about it," he added.

"The Premier League have come out and made their statements and once they've made their statements you can then hold them to that and that's what you couldn't do before.

"Now they are going to continuously move forward and that's what you want."