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Theo Walcott shares 'lovely memory' of when Arsenal visited Queen Elizabeth II for afternoon tea at Buckingham Palace in 2007... and Emmanuel Eboue made the monarch laugh by telling her 'I want to look after your dogs!'

• Former Arsenal players shared their memories of meeting the Queen in 2007 
• The north London side were invited to Buckingham Palace to have afternoon tea 
• The Queen was due to open the newly-constructed Emirates Stadium in 2006 
• As a result, the team were invited into her private apartments for a meeting 
• Arsenal's clash in Zurich on Thursday saw a minute's silence to pay respect
• The Queen's funeral: All the latest Royal Family news and coverage

By Dominic Hogan For Mailonline

Published: 04:12 EDT, 9 September 2022 | Updated: 04:41 EDT, 10 September 2022

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Former Arsenal stars have taken to social media to share their memories of a 2007 meeting with Her Majesty the Queen .

Her Majesty was due to cut the ribbon on the club's newly-constructed Emirates Stadium after their move from Highbury in 2006, but was unable to attend, and instead invited the side to Buckingham Palace . 

Both Theo Walcott and Emmanuel Eboue were members of the Arsenal squad when they were invited to have afternoon tea with Her Majesty the Queen 15 years ago. 

The Queen invited the Arsenal squad to Buckingham Palace to have afternoon tea in 2007

Thierry Henry guided Her Majesty through his team-mates who she greeted individually

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The Southampton winger, now 33, retweeted a video of the Gunners' royal meeting with the caption: 'Lovely memory this…'

And Ivory Coast right-back Eboue shared his memories of making Her Majesty laugh after telling her: 'We went there and Thierry Henry said to me, "Please, Emmanuel, it's the Queen's house, don't do anything"

But despite the warning from his captain, the notorious dressing room joker was unable to contain himself, and narrated a story that left both Her Majesty and the Duke of Edinburgh laughing.  

Lovely memory this … https://t.co/2lO3psKrQZ — Theo Walcott (@theowalcott) September 8, 2022

The Gunners were invited to the Royal Palace after the Queen was unable to attend the opening of the Emirates Stadium in 2006

'"No problem," I said, "Don't worry". So the Queen came in and went along shaking each player's hand.

'After she'd finished, I saw all her corgis so I said, "Ma'am, Ma'am". She turned back & asked, "How are you?". I said, "Ma'am, I am okay thank you, but please, I don't want to be a footballer any more, I want to look after your dogs."

'[I said to the Queen] "I want to take them for walks, wash them, feed them. I want to be a dog carer". The Queen, honestly, she was laughing. Prince Philip was laughing too. All the team were laughing!'

Arsene Wenger even suggested the grounds at Buckingham Palace were enough for 5-aside

Arsenal are the ONLY football club to ever be invited for afternoon tea with the Queen 👑 https://t.co/tNJlKgr8j7 — . (@APresserV2) September 8, 2022

A video was posted late on Thursday night from the Arsenal Presser Twitter account detailing the north London side's visit to Buckingham Palace. 

The video shows the likes of Arsene Wenger and Henry leading the party at the Queen's private residence, before the legendary French striker introduced each player individually to the monarch to shake her hand. 

The Gunners had travelled to Switzerland to face Zurich in their opening group game of this season's Europa League campaign and only learnt the news of the Queen's passing at half-time.

As a result the resumption of the second half was delayed so that both sides could pay their respects with a minute's silence in memory of Her Majesty.

Both Arsenal and FC Zurich observed a minute's silence at half-time to commemorate the Queen's death

Old Trafford also fell silent as players and fans paid their respects to the late monarch prior to Manchester United's Europa League opener

WHICH SPORTING EVENTS HAVE BEEN AFFECTED FOLLOWING THE DEATH OF THE QUEEN

The Premier League have announced that all of this weekend's matches have been postponed to honour Queen Elizabeth II following her death at the age of 96 on Thursday. 

The FA confirmed all football across the country would also be called off, including the EFL and opening games of the new WSL season, as well as matches in the Barclay's Women's Championship, Women's FA Cup and the FA Trophy.

The National League has also cancelled their programme of fixtures for Saturday and Sunday across steps one to six and grassroots football matches in England have also been postponed to mark the death of the Queen. 

The Government earlier advised that no sporting events should go ahead this weekend - or on the day of the Queen's funeral - but left the final decision up to the individual organisations.

The Scottish FA, Scottish Professional Football League, Scottish Women's Premier League and Highland & Lowland Leagues have agreed that all professional football matches will be postponed this weekend as a mark of respect. 

FA Wales have announced that games from the 9th to the 12th of September have been postponed. 

Manchester United's Europa League clash with Real Sociedad at Old Trafford and West Ham's game against FCSB in the Europa Conference League at the London Stadium went ahead on Thursday evening with pre-match tributes.

The Northern Ireland Football League announced that Friday night's matches between Cliftonville and Glentoran and Larne and Dungannon have been postponed.

The English Football League also confirmed that Friday night's Championship game between Burnley and Norwich and the League Two match between Tranmere and Stockport had been postponed, with a decision on Saturday's fixtures yet to be made.

The Irish FA has announced that all football in Northern Ireland scheduled for this weekend will not take place. 

All of the Premier League 2 fixtures have been cancelled, as well as the Championship match between Burnley and Norwich.

Tonight’s League Two fixture between Tranmere Rovers and Stockport County has also been postponed. 

Friday's play between England and South Africa men at The Oval, along with all scheduled matches in the Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, will not take place.

Rugby Union

Northampton announced the postponement of their Premiership Rugby Cup clash against Saracens scheduled for Thursday evening.

The Scottish Rugby Union has postponed all domestic competitive games this weekend as a mark of respect and the women's summer Test international between Scotland and Spain on Sunday is also off.

Bristol Bears against Bath Rugby has been postponed from Friday evening to a 5.30pm kick-off on Saturday, following the decision of the Premiership board. The rest of the Saturday Premiership Rugby matches will go ahead.

Rugby League

The RFL postponed Friday's Betfred Championship fixture between Sheffield Eagles and Dewsbury Rams, but the first Super League elimination play-off between Catalans Dragons and Leeds will go ahead as it is taking place in Perpignan, France. 

Further announcements about the weekend's fixtures at all levels were set to be made 'as soon as possible', the governing body said. 

Play was suspended for the day at the BMW PGA Championship and there will be no play on Friday.  

However, organisers later revealed they are planning to restart at Wentworth this weekend, awaiting guidance from Buckingham Palace.

Sunday's Italian Grand Prix will go ahead as scheduled with a minute's silence planned before practice on Friday and another expected before the race.

The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) stated that all fights on Friday would not go ahead as planned.

The weigh-in for Saturday's proposed bout between Savannah Marshall and Claressa Shields will take place behind closed doors. No announcement has yet been made about the weekend's fight at The O2 in London. 

The US Open held a brief tribute to the Queen during the women's semi-finals on Thursday night in New York. With Brits Joe Salisbury and Neal Skupski on either side of the net for the men's double's final on Friday, the pair are expected to wear black armbands to mark the Queen's passing.  

Horse racing

Horse racing was a much loved passion of the Queen. Events were cancelled for Friday and Saturday, while evening cards at Southwell and Chelmsford on Thursday were abandoned after the news of her death was confirmed around 6.30pm.  

On Sunday, racing returns, led with the St Leger in a revised nine-race programme at Doncaster racecourse. 

Sunday's card at Chepstow in Wales will also proceed as normal, but Musselburgh in Scotland has been cancelled because the Queen's body will be lying in rest in Edinburgh. 

The Queen's horse King’s Lynn has not been declared for the Al Basti Equiworld, Dubai Flying Five Stakes at the Curragh, Ireland, on Sunday, after being initially entered. 

The Great North Run, the world's largest half-marathon, will go ahead on Sunday. Organisers cancelled its 5k sister event on Friday. 

Richmond RUN-FEST has been postponed, because their route would take runners through two locations owned in part by Historic Royal Palaces and a floral tribute to Elizabeth in the Royal Borough's Old Deer Park. 

Friday's Tour of Britain stage was promptly cancelled and later on Thursday evening the rest of the tour, which was set to finish on the Isle of Wight on Sunday, was called off entirely.

Premier Sports Elite League Ice Hockey will begin tonight as previously planned, following a board meeting. Fixtures will start with a two-minute silence for the Queen, followed by the playing of the national anthem. 

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Queen elizabeth ii: arsenal star's hilarious story during buckingham palace visit.

Arsenal met the Queen in 2007 - and Eboue has a hilarious story to tell from that day.

The world is still coming to terms with the death of Queen Elizabeth II.After 70 years on the throne, her majesty passed away on Thursday 8 September.At the time her death was announced, English side Arsenal were in action in the Europa League away against Zurich. With the match already taking place in Switzerland, there was clearly no chance to cancel the game. Instead, when the two teams emerged out of the tunnel for the second half, they held a minute's silence as a mark of respect .It's believed the Queen was actually an Arsenal fan and invited the club to Buckingham Palace for a reception in 2007. Cesc Fabregas claimed that she told him that she was 'a fan' of the team .

When Arsenal squad met the Queen

And following her sad passing, footage has emerged of the day when Arsenal went to meet the Queen - the only football club to do so.

The clip shows the Arsenal coach pulling up at Buckingham Palace with Arsene Wenger admitting the Palace was "quite big" upon arrival.

The team, led by the likes of Thierry Henry, Gilberto Silva and Theo Walcott are then given a tour around the Queen's home.

The squad are giving some tea with goalkeeper Manuel Almunia admitting he 'doesn't like tea but you have to do it here.'

The Queen then arrives with her corgi dogs in tow.

Emmanuel Eboue's hilarious story of meeting the Queen

Henry is the first to greet her before he introduces her to the entire squad, naming the country in which they're from. Among those she's seen shaking hands with is Emmanuel Eboue, who bows when shaking her hand.

And there's actually a funny story that has emerged from that day told by the Ivorian which wasn't unfortunately shown in the footage.

"We went there and Thierry Henry said to me, 'Please, Emmanuel, it's the Queen's house, don't do anything'. 'No problem,' I said, 'Don't worry'. So the Queen came in & went along shaking each player's hand," he explained.

"After she'd finished, I saw all her corgis so I said, 'Ma'am, Ma'am'. She turned back & asked, 'How are you?'. I said, 'Ma'am, I am okay thank you, but please, I don't want to be a footballer anymore, I want to look after your dogs.’"

“[I said to the Queen] I want to take them for walks, wash them, feed them. I want to be a dog carer. The Queen, honestly, she was laughing. Prince Philip was laughing too. All the team were laughing!”

The clip finishes with the Queen receiving the Arsenal club emblem of a cannon with Wenger joking "It's not to incite you to make war."

VIDEO: Arsenal squad meet the Queen in 2007

Football FanCast

Remembering the queen: arsenal's trip to the palace.

The funeral of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II is set to take place on Monday after her passing earlier this month. The Transfer Tavern remember her with some of the stories from Arsenal's famous trip to Buckingham Palace back in 2007...

Queen Elizabeth the Arsenal supporter?

Cesc Fabregas, a famous member of that iconic 2006/2007 Arsenal squad, revealed after the team's visit to Buckingham Palace that the Queen had told them she was an Arsenal fan.

In fact, she had been fond of the North London club for ' over 50 years ', according to a royal source, due to her mother's admiration for the great Denis Compton, an England international cricketer who played for the Gunners between 1936 and 1950.

Arsenal remain the only football club to have ever been invited to the Palace for afternoon tea with the Queen.

Why did Arsenal go to Buckingham Palace?

The Queen was due to open the Emirates Stadium back in 2006, but was unable to attend due to a back injury.

As a result, she invited the Arsenal squad back to Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea in February 2007 as a way of apology.

What happened on the visit?

Cameras followed the Arsenal squad as they took a bus ride to the Palace and were greeted by Her Majesty and her staff members.

One Palace employee, who gave them a tour of the Queen's photos, described meeting Gunners legend and captain Thierry Henry in particular as 'very exciting' and 'extraordinary' , while even the forever composed Frenchman himself was starstruck by the ordeal, failing to properly tie his tie and even recently admitting that he ' forgot ' his teammate Julio Baptista's name during the visit.

Meanwhile, Manuel Almunia has since admitted that he doesn't actually like tea, but said you ' have to ' drink it if offered by the Queen.

Perhaps the most fascinating story during the visit involved Emmanuel Eboue, who allegedly asked the Queen if he could dog-sit for her corgis.

The Ivory Coast international said : "Ma’am, I am OK thank you but please, I don’t want to be a footballer anymore, I want to look after your dogs. I want to take them for walks, wash them, feed them. I want to be a dog carer."

The Queen, Prince Philip and the team were all left laughing at the bizarre comment, particularly as Henry had warned the right-back beforehand ' don’t do anything '.

What happened at the end of the visit?

At the end of the visit, the Queen was gifted a figurine of the club's emblem, a cannon.

Manager at the time Arsene Wenger even drew a laugh from her after he said : 'It’s not to incite you to make war!'

No other football club have visited the Palace since, showing just how much of a special occasion it really was.

Inside Arsenal's Buckingham Palace visit - from ringtone blunder to the Queen's gift

The Gunners were at the peak of their powers when they were invited to visit Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace, and the trip did not disappoint

• 11:33, 9 SEP 2022
• Updated 11:43, 9 SEP 2022

Arsenal were the first and only football club to ever be invited to Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea with the Queen.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II had been scheduled to cut the ribbon and officially open the club’s new stadium in the summer of 2006. But after hurting her back, it was Prince Philip who stepped in to mark the opening of the Emirates Stadium.

The Queen, disappointed at missing the event, decided to make up for it by inviting the squad to Buckingham Palace later that season in February 2007. And the visit went exactly as one might expect for a group of footballers not quite accustomed to their surroundings in the palace.

Daily Star Sport reflects on that momentous day as the world mourns the loss of Her Majesty at the age of 96.

READ MORE: The Queen’s minute’s silence marred by booing during Arsenal’s game with Zurich

Footage from a BBC documentary captured the Arsenal team bus’ arrival at the palace. Dressed immaculately at the front of the coach, Arsene Wenger took in his surroundings and pointed out: “It’s quite big.”

“You could play a big football match in here,” the charming Frenchman added while observing the area outside, before letting out his famously cheeky smile.

Thierry’s wardrobe malfunction

Arsenal captain Thierry Henry was tasked with introducing the Queen to his fellow team-mates. The striker at the time was king of the footballing world himself, having played in both the Champions League and World Cup finals the previous year.

Yet the Frenchman, who is usually known for his sense of style, appeared slightly flustered while waiting to talk to Her Majesty, and had forgotten to do up the top button of his shirt. Luckily, the Queen excused his fashion faux pas and the two hit it off while chatting about the Gunners’ recent win.

Rogue Nokia

Arsenal’s multicultural group of stars nervously awaited the Queen inside the palace with a cup of tea. But as she was being introduced to the likes of Gilberto Silva and Denilson, a classic Nokia phone ringtone went off.

The Queen, classy as ever, continued greeting the players without acknowledging the cringe-worthy mishap by one of the Arsenal’s players or staff.

The Eboue show

Former Arsenal jokester Emmanuel Eboue was in attendance and made full use of the rare opportunity to meet the monarch. The Ivorian offered her a full bow when being introduced, but left his team-mates clenching their teeth with an outrageous request to look after her corgis, despite being warned by Henry to be on his best behaviour beforehand.

The ex-defender revealed: “So the Queen came in and went along shaking each player's hand. After she'd finished I saw all her corgis so I said, 'Ma'am, Ma'am'. She turned back and asked, 'How are you?'

“And I said, 'Ma'am, I am OK thank you but please, I don't want to be a footballer any more, I want to look after your dogs. I want to take them for walks, wash them, feed them. I want to be a dog carer’.

“The Queen, honestly, she was laughing. Prince Philip was laughing too. All the team were laughing."

Parting gifts

At the end of the visit, the Gunners decided to give back by gifting Her Majesty a miniature statue of the club emblem - a cannon. Manager Wenger offered a cheeky jibe, saying: “This is not to incite you to start a war”, which the Queen luckily saw the funny side of.

And she was even given a parting recommendation by Henry about visiting club physio Gary Lewin, who later went on to serve the England national team.

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Arsene Wenger urged the Queen not to go to war after presenting her with Arsenal gift

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger and his squad were once invited to meet the Queen, who died last week at the age of 96, and the Frenchman presented her with a gift

• 11:58, 13 Sep 2022
• Updated 12:32, 13 Sep 2022

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger presented Queen Elizabeth II with a decorative cannon in 2007 when his squad received a special invitation to meet the monarch at Buckingham Palace

Wenger, who spent more than 20 years at manager of the London side, was part of a group of Arsenal players and staff invited to Buckingham Palace in 2007 . The monarch, who died last week at the age of 96, had officially opened the Gunners' new stadium just months earlier.

Members of the squad have spoken about the encounter in the past, not least Emmanuel Eboue . However, Wenger's interaction with the Queen was very revealing of the manager's personality.

As the players milled around, a number of them were greeted directly by the Queen. These included Thierry Henry, who was in the middle of his final season as an Arsenal player, and World Cup winning midfielder Gilberto Silva.

"You try not to put in your head who you have in front of you," Henry said. "There are no words to describe the experience the Queen has given us, to come here and visit her house.

In a clip shared on social media, Wenger can be seen standing by as the Queen is handed her gift, a likeness to the cannon on the club's badge. However, he is quick to comment as she picks it up, saying "It's not to incite you to make war".

It was not the only time Wenger, who took over at Arsenal in 1996 and left his post in 2018, met the Queen. And, in a post on Instagram over the weekend, the Frenchman paid tribute to the UK's longest-serving monarch.

"I arrived in England almost 26 years ago, in October 1996," Wenger wrote. "During that time, it was an honour to meet Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II twice. Once at Buckingham Palace, and once at Windsor.

"In an ever-changing world, throughout her reign, her sense of duty, and dedication to keeping the nation united are qualities I had huge respect and admiration for.

"The tributes that have been paid by people from all walks of life from around the world, demonstrate how much she meant, to so many. I would like to send my condolences to the Royal Family, and to all those who are in mourning today."

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The Queen ‘was an Arsenal fan’, claimed Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Eboue made Her Majesty laugh with joke about her corgis during Gunners’ Buckingham Palace tour that left Thierry Henry speechless

• Connor Andrews
• Published : 11:09, 11 Sep 2022
• Updated : 11:09, 11 Sep 2022

With the world of sport mourning the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, one football team might be feeling the loss more than many others.

Her Majesty passed away at the age of 96 on Thursday as Britain’s longest serving monarch leaving an unparalleled legacy on the country.

Many of her more recent iconic moments came at sporting events such as the Olympics, and it’s understood she was a keen lover of sport.

The Queen was born in Mayfair, west London back in 1926, and Arsenal’s Cesc Fabregas claimed Her Majesty was a fan of the north London side , and the facts back it up.

The Gunners were once invited to Buckingham Palace in 2007 with Thierry Henry and Arsene Wenger in tow, and revealed her affinity according to Fabregas.

“It seems the Queen follows football and she told us she was an Arsenal fan,” he told Spanish radio.

“She appeared to definitely know who I was and we exchanged a few special words.”

The Evening Standard also quoted a royal source at the time who said: “Her Majesty has been fond of Arsenal for over 50 years.

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“Her late mother was a self confessed Gooner, due largely to her admiration of their former player Denis Compton.”

Elizabeth II was due to open Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium back in 2006 when the club were at the peak of their powers, reaching the Champions League final against Barcelona.

However, Her Majesty was unable to attend due to a back injury, and invited the Gunners to the Palace as a way of apology.

Cameras followed the Arsenal squad on one of their more unusual bus rides, with delighted Arsene Wenger saying of the Palace: “It’s quite big, could play a good football match in here!”

One staff member who gave the squad a tour of the Queen’s photos said: “Well, I’m very nervous, I’m not usually doing it for superstars.

“Very exciting, it’s extraordinary, I’m trying to remember all my words when Thierry Henry is facing me!”

Henry himself didn’t look too nervous though, not even bothering to properly do up his tie as he introduced the Queen to his thrilled teammates.

“I don’t even like tea but you have to do it here!” said Manuel Almunia.

Henry commented: “She knew that we won the game, I didn’t ask her if she actually watched the game.

“You kind of try to not put in your head who you have in front of you and I guess it went really nice.

“There are no words to describe what experience the Queen has given us to come here and visit her house.”

The club then gifted the Queen a figurine of their emblem, a cannon, and Wenger even drew a laugh from the Monarch when he said: “It’s not to incite you to make war!”

Perhaps the most iconic moment from the meeting was one that’s gone down in club folklore, inspired by cult hero Emmanuel Eboue.

Eboue was known as being one of the funniest players in the game, and even claims he drew a laugh from the Queen and Prince Philip.

He recalled : “We went there and Thierry Henry said to me: ‘Please, Emmanuel, this is Buckingham Palace, it’s the Queen’s house, don’t do anything.’

“‘No problem,’ I said. ‘Don’t worry’.

“So, the Queen came in and went along shaking each player’s hand. After she’d finished I saw all her corgis so I said, ‘Ma’am, Ma’am’.

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“She turned back and asked, ‘How are you?’ and I said, ‘Ma’am, I am OK thank you but please, I don’t want to be a footballer anymore, I want to look after your dogs. I want to take them for walks, wash them, feed them. I want to be a dog carer.

“The Queen, honestly, she was laughing. Prince Philip was laughing too. All the team were laughing.”

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Photo: How Arsenal players marked the Queen’s death v FC Zurich

Arsenal ‘s Europa League opener this evening included an impromptu minute-long silence in memory of Queen Elizabeth II, a rumoured supporter of the London club.

Earlier tonight it was announced by Buckingham Palace that the long-serving monarch had died at the age of 96.

The announcement came midway through Arsenal’s European visit to FC Zurich.

Before kickoff for the second half, both sets of players lined up in a minute’s silence for the Queen.

Here are some photographs of the moment:

Who did the Queen support?

Back in 2009, The Mirror reported that Queen Elizabeth had a soft spot for a certain West Ham United.

However, The Sun quotes former Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas as revealing as a teenager that she actually supported the North London outfit.

Fabregas reportedly said when he was 19: “It seems the Queen follows football and she told us she was an Arsenal fan. She appeared to definitely know who I was and we exchanged a few special words.”

The Spain international and his fellow teammates were invited to Buckingham Castle in 2007 by the Queen herself after a health problem prevented her from fulfilling a commitment regarding the opening of the Emirates Stadium 15 years ago.

In addition to being the longest-serving monarch in British history, having held the position for 70 years, she was also the world’s oldest head of state.

Here is how Arsenal reacted on their official website to the announcement:

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List of famous Arsenal fans | Including the Queen, Daniel Kaluuya, Idris Elba and Harry Kane?

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• 1 Did the Queen support Arsenal?
• 2 Actors who support the Gunners
• 3 Other famous Arsenal fans
• 4 Which football players support Arsenal?

Did the Queen support Arsenal?

It is clear that even if Queen Elizabeth II wasn’t a diehard Arsenal fan she certainly had a soft spot for the Gunners. In February 2007, Arsenal became the only football club to be invited for afternoon tea with the Queen at Buckingham Palace.

On this day in 2007: Queen Elizabeth became the first monarch to host a football team at Buckingham Palace as Arsenal visited. The invitation came after the Queen was unable to attend the opening of the Emirates Stadium, done by the Duke of Edinburgh, the previous October. #afc pic.twitter.com/tIXlGFQty8 — afcstuff (@afcstuff) February 15, 2022

However, it is reported that the invite came due to the Queen’s disappointment in not being able to cut the ribbon to officially open the Emirates Stadium in 2006, not due to her being an Arsenal fan.

The Queen was reportedly secretly a West Ham United fan, a revelation that reportedly “shocked” her Buckingham Palace staff. The Daily Mirror shed light on this supposed allegiance, suggesting that Her Majesty's love for the Hammers was a well-kept secret and dated back to the tenure of ex-West Ham manager Ron Greenwood in the 1960s.

However, amidst the conflicting tales, former Arsenal captain Cesc Fabregas provided a twist in 2007, affirming that the Queen personally disclosed her favouritism for Arsenal.

The royal pitch extends beyond the Queen, reaching Prince Harry's, reported, candid confession to a friend of being an Arsenal fan during a moment at Twickenham.

However, as the football winds blow, Prince William takes a different path, favouring Aston Villa . Meanwhile, King Charles follows his own football passion, proudly waving the Burnley flag.

Actors who support the Gunners

Born in Hackney in London Idris Elba says he has always been an Arsenal fan. On That Peter Crouch Podcast, the Luther actor recalled encountering members of West Ham’s firm when he was twelve years old.

“They used to terrorise us at school and I remember I had an Arsenal shirt given to me somewhere and I wore an Arsenal shirt and they were screaming at me and shouting at me and I just felt really powerful in it.”

He added that the Arsenal shirt became “sort of my superhero thing.”

Academy Award and BAFTA-winning actor Daniel Kaluuya is also a lifelong Arsenal fan. The Get out and Black Panther actor narrated Amazon's All or Nothing documentary on Arsenal’s 2021/22 season.

Narrator of Arsenal: All or Nothing, Daniel Kaluuya: "Arsenal fans are wankers." 🫢 pic.twitter.com/AmCordA1Hz — FootballJOE (@FootballJOE) August 2, 2022

Is Benedict Cumberbatch an Arsenal fan?

Benedict Cumberbatch and Colin Firth are just two more actors reported to be Arsenal fans.

Other actors who support Arsenal include:

• Hugh Laurie
• Andrew Garfield
• Daisy Ridley

Other famous Arsenal fans

Is jay-z an arsenal fan.

Inspired by his friendship with Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, rapper Jay-Z embraced the Gunners' fandom, expressing his admiration for their beautiful football style.

The rapper reportedly even contemplated purchasing shares in the club and securing a spot in the boardroom, revealing his desire to be actively involved in decision-making.

Jay-Z's commitment to Arsenal reached such heights that he hinted at a potential move to London with wife Beyoncé to immerse himself further in the club's affairs.

Is Mick Jagger an Arsenal fan?

The Rolling Stones lead singer is also a massive Arsenal fan and was seen watching the Gunners’ 3-0 win at Fulham in March this year.

Other music stars include:

• Chris Martin
• Jess Glynne

Is Mo Farah an Arsenal fan?

Team GB legend Mo Farah, hailing from Somalia, has long been an ardent supporter of Arsenal. In 2016, he shared that his affinity for Arsenal began in his childhood upon arriving in Britain, drawn to their playing style and the presence of players with African backgrounds.

"I didn't want to become a runner, I wanted to play for Arsenal!" 🗣️ Imagine @Mo_Farah playing as the midfield engine! 🏃‍♂️ #MoFarah #Arsenal #AFC #Interview pic.twitter.com/q0Z1XLRnkX — AFTV (@AFTVMedia) July 9, 2023

Farah's dedication to the Gunners goes beyond fandom; he even wanted his son's middle name to be ‘Arsenal' and harbours aspirations to work as a fitness coach for the club.

Piers Morgan: The Arsenal fan provocateur

Piers Morgan has been an Arsenal fan since his childhood and has evolved into the club's outspoken provocateur, captivating a large audience on X (formerly Twitter).

While the British journalist claims to be just a passionate fan sharing sentiments akin to those in a pub, Morgan wields a unique influence.

Known for his candid critiques, he certainly didn’t shy away from calling for the dismissal of former Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger on numerous occasions. He has also gone in on multiple players and the club as a whole multiple times.

Morgan's Arsenal fervour isn't confined to the stands; it permeates through his outspoken role.

Which football players support Arsenal?

Is harry kane an arsenal fan.

Most English football fans will have seen the photo of a young Harry Kane in an Arsenal kit but did he actually support the Gunners?

Harry Kane celebrating Arsenal winning the league in a Gunners shirt? Here you go… pic.twitter.com/3dwSy1vAZ4 — Layth (@laythy29) July 12, 2020

The England captain did spend a year in Arsenal’s youth academy but was released. So, as much as Arsenal fans like to use the picture to torment their North London rivals, the England captain insists he has never been an Arsenal fan.

Harry Kane in Arsenal shirt

Ray Parlour on Kane: "Have you seen the pictures of his in 2004 with an Arsenal shirt on? He's one of our own!" pic.twitter.com/wRglj6XyoP — Chris Wheatley (@ChrisWheatley) April 28, 2016

Which Arsenal players are Arsenal fans?

There are a number of players across football who are Arsenal supporters despite not playing for the club. But, there are also a few who are living the dream and playing for the club. Both Zinchenko and Saliba have been pictured in Arsenal kits when younger.

Who knew Zinchenko was an Arsenal fan as a kid? "First of all I would like to say this is a boyhood dream come true, because I was a massive fan when I was a kid. Since Thierry Henry & young Cesc Fabregas was playing here, I was just enjoying watching those games, that Arsenal" pic.twitter.com/4kxINhmTY5 — A Bergkamp Wonderland *An Arsenal Podcast (@TheAFCPodcast) July 22, 2022

“When I was growing up I watched all the Champions League games. I couldn’t watch the other games because we didn’t have all the channels, but that was the first time I watched Arsenal, in the Champions League. Then I had an Arsenal shirt when I was about seven or eight years old. I loved watching Arsenal,” said Saliba in an interview in 2022.

Other famous footballers reported to support the Gunners include:

• Wilfried Zaha
• Antonio Rudiger
• Fikayo Tomori
• David Alaba
• Dejan Kulusevski
• Ollie Watkins
• Tammy Abraham

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Arsenal are the only club the Queen invited for afternoon tea, Thierry Henry introduced her to everyone

A memorable moment for the french superstar..

Marcus Chan

Arsenal are the only football club to ever be invited for afternoon tea with the Queen.

Back in the summer of 2006 when Arsenal moved from Highbury to the Emirates Stadium, Queen Elizabeth II was scheduled to cut the ribbon to officially open the club's new home.

However, due to reportedly hurting her back, Prince Philip took her place.

It was reported that the Queen expressed her disappointment at missing the event, as a result, the Arsenal team were invited to Buckingham Palace for afternoon tea in February of 2007.

Footage from a BBC documentary captured the historic meeting between the Queen and the Arsenal team. Watch the fascinating footage below.

Then club director, Ken Friar said: "I have been in the business a year or two now and have been very fortunate to do many things, and I would think this is a highlight."

Whilst former manager Arsene Wenger added: "I think she is interested in people and will make them feel relaxed."

Before the meeting with the Queen, the Arsenal squad were given a private tour of the state apartments by Desmond Shawe Taylor, a royal collections expert.

As the Queen arrived to greet the players. Club captain Thierry Henry introduced the players.

"It went really nicely," Henry said afterwards. "I have no words to describe the experience the Queen has given us."

It is now more than a year since the Queen passed away at Balmoral Castle, aged 96.

Arsenal released a statement at the time, paying tribute to the monarch.

It read: "Everyone at Arsenal Football Club is saddened at the news of the death of Her Majesty The Queen.

"Her Majesty gave remarkable service over eight decades to the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth and we join together with so many around the world in mourning her passing and wish to extend our deepest sympathies to the Royal Family."

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Topics:  Arsenal , Football , Premier League , Arsene Wenger , Thierry Henry

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'Strange silence' - How Queen Elizabeth II's death was reported during Arsenal's win over FC Zurich

The Gunners had to play out the second half in extraordinary circumstances with the news back home leading to a full blackout on their social media

• 09:38, 9 SEP 2022
• Updated 13:31, 9 SEP 2022

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FC Zurich vs Arsenal will not only be remembered for the fact the Gunners won their opening UEFA Europa League game upon their return but for the sad news that unfortunately overshadowed the whole match and occasion.

Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II's death was announced just after 6pm on Thursday, September 8, 2022, after it had been revealed earlier during the day that she was under 'medical supervision' at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Her son Charles is now King Charles III as a result of this national tragedy. As the country enters a 12-day period of national mourning, sporting events over the weekend are likely to be postponed, meaning both the men's and women's sides are not likely to play out their fixtures against Everton and Man City, respectively.

Therefore, this win in Switzerland courtesy of goals from youngster Marquinhos and second-choice striker Eddie Nketiah may be the north Londoners' last taste of action until the PSV and Brentford games next week for Mikel Arteta's side. With these extraordinary circumstances taken into account, football.london looks into how the national media reported on Arsenal's win over Zurich while the news about the Queen circulated across the world.

READ MORE: Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham players send message to Queen Elizabeth II after death

The Guardian

'Arsenal's return to Europe passed smoothly in a game that will take a strange, unwanted place in history. A minute's silence won't have been conducted before too many other second halves, but before the restart, both sides' players linked arms and stood around the centre circle to commemorate the Queen. The news of her death had broken at the end of the opening period.

'A section of the away support performed a rendition of the national anthem, and the stadium staff had, to their credit, reacted quickly to show an image of the monarch on the big screens at both ends along with words of condolence.'

'Mikel Arteta will be pleased with how Arsenal handled their task against a limited FC Zürich and especially enthused by a revelatory debut from Marquinhos. The Brazilian winger, 19, scored their first and, after Mirlind Kryeziu had equalised with a penalty, created the winner for Eddie Nketiah. Arsenal did not overly feel the effects of seven changes and have taken early control of Group A.'

The Telegraph

'It was just as the half-time whistle blew in St Gallen that the news from Buckingham Palace was announced. The identity of the Queen's favourite football team has, of course, never been officially disclosed, but speculation in this regard has often leaned to Arsenal, stemming apparently from the Queen Mother's admiration for the England cricketer and former Arsenal player Denis Compton. Whatever the truth, Arsenal were the one English club in competition when the announcement of her death came and, during the half-time interval, it was agreed that there should be a minute's silence before play resumed.

'A photograph of the Queen was also shown on the screen at both ends of the stadium alongside the message: 'In memoriam: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, 1926-2022'.

'The FC Zurich fans had been in boisterous voice throughout the first half, not least when flares were lit following an equalising goal in the 44th minute, and some would have been immediately unsure even what was happening as the period of silence began. There was noise from a minority of FC Zurich fans, and as Arsenal fans began to react with some booing, referee Mohammed Al-Hakim whistled for the largely respected period of silence to end and the match to restart.'

'Arsenal and Zurich held a minute's silence to mark the passing of her majesty The Queen.

'The players from both teams gathered around the centre circle before the second half of their Europa League tie kicked off after the sad news broke while the match was already underway.

'The official announcement totally overshadowed the game, which saw Arsenal's return to European action after failing to qualify for the first time in 25 years last season.'

'Arsenal and FC Zurich held a minute's silence for Queen Elizabeth II following her death on Thursday, but it was interrupted at the end by booing and jeering from the home supporters.

'The two teams lined up around the centre circle before the start of the second half of the Europa League clash to take part in a period of silence to mark the Queen's death.

'A black and white photo of Her Majesty was displayed on the big screen, with the referee's whistle beginning the moment of reflection.

'There seemed to be shock on the faces of a number of people in the stands, many of whom would only have discovered the news of the Queen's death via the stadium tannoy.

'While the silence was largely well observed, around 40 seconds into it, the home supporters appeared to become restless and started booing, jeering and whistling.

'That prompted the silence to end prematurely, with the players breaking apart and taking up their positions on the pitch before the full minute had passed.'

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Time for some well-deserved royal R&R!

King Charles and Queen Camilla were seen boarding a jet as they headed off to their Scottish estate for a private getaway.

The royals, who this week celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary , touched down at Aberdeen Airport Wednesday, from which they were whisked away to Birkhall, their Highlands retreat located on the Balmoral Estate.

While it’s unclear exactly how long the couple will enjoy some much-needed downtime, the pair — who flew from RAF Northolt in northwest London — are likely to spend some quality time given the chaotic start to the year the family has had.

As Charles continues to receive cancer treatment, Camilla has been frequently stepping in for her husband to attend various royal engagements over the last few months.

After landing in Scotland, the pair were driven for about an hour to their estate, where they’ll be spending some “private time” according to palace insiders.

Charles’s love for the plush estate, which is nestled on the banks of the River Muick, is well-known, as he often visits whenever time allows.

“It is such a special place, particularly because it was made by my grandmother. It is a childhood garden, and all I’ve done, really, is enhance it a bit,” the king told  Country Life  of the estate’s gardens . 

What’s more, the residence holds a special place in both of their hearts as it’s where they spent their honeymoon after tying the knot in 2005.

Since then, they’ve made it their tradition to spend their anniversary at the estate each year.

The pair, who tied the knot on April 9, 2005, celebrated their 19th wedding anniversary on Tuesday.

They marked the occasion with a private celebration that included an intimate “romantic dinner,” according to the monarch’s former butler Grant Harrold.

Charles, who is  in the thick of his cancer treatment  following his  diagnosis in February , has been  forced to hit the brakes on much of his royal agenda  since news of his ailing health came to light.

Just days before jetting off to Scotland, the King was seen waving to well-wishers from the car as he headed to church at Sandringham.

The previous week, he was seen joining other royals for Easter Sunday service at Windsor Castle.

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King Felipe shares update as he visits mother Queen Sofia in hospital

Spain's queen mother, 85, was admitted on tuesday.

King Felipe visited his mother Queen Sofia in hospital on Wednesday, the day after the 85-year-old royal was admitted for a urinary tract infection.

The monarch, 56, was pictured smiling at the wheel of his car after spending time at his mother's bedside at the Ruber Clinic in Madrid.

HELLO! 's sister publication HOLA! reports that Felipe gave an update on Queen Sofia's health, telling media outside the hospital: " She is very well, cheerful and eager to be discharged and return as soon as possible."

Queen Sofia has always enjoyed good health and keeps a busy schedule of engagements, supporting her son King Felipe and daughter-in-law, Queen Letizia .

The queen was last seen publicly on Saturday, as she attended the wedding reception of Teresa Urquijo, 28, and the Mayor of Madrid José Luis Martínez-Almeida, 48. Sofia was pictured arriving at the reception in a car, after missing the ceremony, which was attended by her husband, King Juan Carlos and their two daughters, Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina. Also in attendance were Elena's two children, Victoria and Felipe and one of Cristina's sons, Juan.

Born Princess Sofia of Greece and Denmark, she married Juan Carlos I of Spain in 1962 upon her husband's accession in 1975.

Juan Carlos and Sofia have three children – Infanta Elena, Infanta Cristina and King Felipe. Following her husband's abdication in favour of their son Felipe in 2014, Sofia has concentrated on her sponsoring activities, splitting her time between La Zarzuela in Madrid and the Marivent Palace in Palma de Mallorca in the summer months.

Sofia appeared to clash with her daughter-in-law, Queen Letizia, during an awkward photocall during the 2018 Easter Mass service, but they seem to have patched up their differences in recent years. Felipe and Letizia were on hand to support Sofia at the funeral of her late brother, King Constantine of Greece in Athens in January 2023.

Queen Sofia is grandmother to Felipe and Letizia's daughters, Princess Leonor , 18, who is heir to the Spanish throne, and Infanta Sofia , 16. She also has a further six grandchildren from her daughters Elena and Cristina.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia are expected to continue their royal duties in the coming days, with the royal couple scheduled to attend the National Innovation and Design Awards in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria on Thursday.

LISTEN: Inside King Charles' private lunch with Princess Kate

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Paul Kagame: Controversial Rwandan president was at Arsenal for Bayern Munich clash

Rwanda’s controversial president Paul Kagame attended Arsenal ’s Champions League home game against Bayern Munich on Tuesday.

Kagame, 66, had a meeting with UK prime minister Rishi Sunak earlier in the day. A statement from Downing Street said the leaders had discussed the UK-Rwanda Migration and Economic Development Partnership — which includes the contentious migration law that would see the UK send asylum seekers from their shores to Rwanda, where they would be processed under their system — and regional security.

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Kagame’s visit to the Emirates Stadium was due to the Visit Rwanda sponsorship deal that covers Arsenal’s men’s and women’s teams, alongside the tourist board’s agreement with Bayern.

Kagame was last re-elected as president of Rwanda in 2017, having first taken office in 2000. He was elected to serve his seventh term with 98.8 per cent of the vote, according to the Rwandan National Electoral Commission. Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that the election “took place in a context of very limited free speech or open political space”.

Kagame represents the Rwanda Patriotic Front (RPF) party and is its leader. HRW said in its 2023 World Report that the RPF “continued to wage a campaign against real and perceived opponents of the government”. It added that “over a dozen political opposition members are in prison” and many are “being prosecuted or have been convicted on spurious grounds”.

The United States State Department said in 2022 that “significant human rights issues (in Rwanda) included credible reports of: unlawful or arbitrary killings; torture or cruel, inhuman, or degrading treatment or punishment by the government; transnational repression against individuals located outside the country, including killings, kidnappings, and violence; serious and unreasonable restrictions on political participation; and serious government restrictions on or harassment of domestic and international human rights organizations”.

In January, the UK government said that “while Rwanda is now a relatively peaceful country with respect for the rule of law, there are nevertheless issues with its human rights record around political opposition to the current regime, dissent and free speech”.

Kagame has been vocal of his support for Arsenal on social media, with his posts on X about the north London club dating back to 2011.

Bravo,Congrats ARSENAL for a well deserved and needed win -FA CUP. We,FANS and supporters kept Faith in you…going forward let's aim at much bigger things. WE CAN… !!! — Paul Kagame (@PaulKagame) August 1, 2020

Arsenal’s deal with Visit Rwanda began in May 2018, when they signed a three-year deal with the Rwanda Development Board. In 2021, Arsenal signed another £10million-per-year ($12.5m) sleeve sponsorship contract with Visit Rwanda lasting another four seasons.

In November, The Athletic reported that Arsenal had no plans to end their sponsorship deal with Visit Rwanda, following the UK Supreme Court ruling that the government’s Rwanda immigration plan was “unlawful”.

The written ruling stated that “most human rights violations were said to be linked to criticisms of the Rwandan government” with “constraints on media freedom and political activities” and questioned the country’s compliance with international human rights agreements.

The UK government said on Tuesday that “both leaders looked forward to flights departing to Rwanda in the spring” with regards to the asylum plan.

Arsenal's Visit Rwanda sponsorship: The impact, criticisms and what fans think

(Ian Kington/IKImages/AFP via Getty Images)

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How to watch Arsenal v Aston Villa live on TV

We’re back in Premier League action at home to Aston Villa on Sunday, April 14.

The match kicks off at 4.30pm UK time at Emirates Stadium, and if you haven’t got a ticket then supporters around the world can tune into Breakdown Live on Arsenal.com and the official app for all the Gooner-related analysis, laughs and build-up you can handle!

However, if you want to watch the action unfold on TV, then viewers in the UK can catch the action on Sky Sports Main Event and Sky Sports Premier League. For non-UK supporters, you can check out which broadcaster is covering the game in your region below.

Highlights of the game will be available on Arsenal.com and the app from midnight after the game, as well as a full match replay.

Matchweek 33 Premier League fixtures

Saturday, April 13

Newcastle United v Tottenham Hotspur (12.30)

Brentford v Sheffield United (15.00)

Burnley v Brighton & Hove Albion (15.00)

Manchester City v Luton Town (15.00)

Nottingham Forest v Wolverhampton Wanderers (15.00)

AFC Bournemouth v Manchester United (17.30)

Sunday, April 14

Liverpool v Crystal Palace (14.00)

West Ham United v Fulham (14.00)

Arsenal v Aston Villa (16.30)

Monday, April 15

Chelsea v Everton (20.00)

All times UK

Copyright 2024 The Arsenal Football Club Limited. Permission to use quotations from this article is granted subject to appropriate credit being given to www.arsenal.com as the source.

25 photos from training at Emirates Stadium

With 24 hours to go until we return to Premier League action against Aston Villa, our men's first team squad were at Emirates Stadium for their last training session before the game and you can see what went on in our gallery.

We'll aim to stretch our unbeaten run in the division to 12 matches against the high-flying Villans on Sunday, and the final preparations to try and make that reality took place under the watchful eye of Mikel Arteta and his coaching staff.

Our club photographer Stuart MacFarlane was also on hand to snap the best shots of the session, and you can see the best of his work below:

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