Queen Elizabeth II was ‘was an Arsenal fan’, Cesc Fabregas claims
Queen Elizabeth II was ‘was an Arsenal fan’, according to former Gunner Cesc Fabregas and Emmanuel Eboue.
Former Arsenal player Cesc Fabregas has claimed that Her Majesty, Elizabeth II was an Arsenal fan.
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.
“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 was at the peak of its 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!”
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