There are a number of celebrities out there who follow Arsenal football club. The ten featured in this article ultimately made my list of the top 10 celebrity fans who are fully fledged Gooners, enjoy:
10. Jay Z
The 40-year-old rapper has been an Arsenal fan for a number of years, but many questioned his love for the club when he was photographed as a guest of Manchester City when they beat the Gunners 4-2 at the City of Manchester Stadium last season. However, last month Jay Z cleared up any allegations that he was nothing but a gooner. Speaking to Arsenal Magazine the hip-hop star said:
“After that game the press started reporting that I was a Manchester City fan, I am really glad all that has been cleared up and that everybody in the UK knows that I am an Arsenal fan.”
The lyricist was made aware of the Gunners and took a shine to them when Thierry Henry used to play for them, he goes on to say:
“It was about five years ago now, when Thierry Henry was at the club, I saw him play and I just thought he was an amazing player. Ever since then I have been a big fan of the club.”
Jay Z has stated that he would love to hook up with the Arsenal squad for lunch and has also openly invited them to attend his next gig in London, whenever this maybe. Beyonce’s other half has also hinted that he may invest some of his £500 million earnings in the club should the opportunity arise in the near future. 99 Problems but his love for Arsenal isn’t one of them.
9. Spike Lee
The American film director, producer, writer and actor is an Arsenal fan, and a big one at that. The 53-year-old is known to wear the Arsenal Jersey whilst on set and is a close and personal friend of former Arsenal striker Thierry Henry. Spike Lee has attended matches at Highbury in recent years as well as a few games at the Emirates Stadium last season, and has a very good knowledge of the game to say the very least. Spike is a Gooner.
8. Dara O’ Briain
The 38-year-old award winning Irish comedian and television presenter is a very keen and avid Gooner to say the very least. The ‘Mock the Week’ and ‘Have I Got News for you’ presenter is a season ticket holder at the Emirates and in his spare time does stand up comedy gigs around the nation. O’ Briain is also a columnist for the Guardian where, like Piers Morgan does for the Daily Mail, expresses his views on his team. He surely deserves to be in this list right?
7. Colin Firth
Reports in the past suggested that the British film and TV actor who starred in the most famous football film ever (in my opinion) ‘Fever Pitch’ was either a Southampton of Arsenal fan. His first and only match before making the hit movie was in fact Hull City against Southampton in 1976 which proposed he may have supported either one of the teams. However, since taking the role as crazed Gooner Paul Ainsworth in Fever Pitch, the 49-year-old hardly ever misses an Arsenal home game when he is in residence in his Hackney flat. Nick Hornby (director of Fever Pitch) is worth a mention for Firth being converted into Goonerdom as it seems as if his film turned the actor into a loyal Arsenal supporter since 1997 to this present day.
6. Frankie Dettori
Dettori is known to be a big follower of the North London club. The 5’ 4’’ Italian jockey who has won every British classic as well as countless amounts of races around the world is as much into Arsenal football club as he is in his own profession. In 1996 Dettori spoke to the Telegraph about his love for Arsenal:
“I’ve been an Arsenal fan since I came to England. I was interviewed by Julian Wilson for the BBC just after I had my seventh win in one afternoon at Ascot, and I asked how Arsenal had done. When I heard that they’d won, it made the day all the more special.”
Dettori arrived in England in 1985, which would make him a fan of the Gunners for 25 years now…a loyal fan indeed.
Click on page 2 to see the top 5
5. Piers Morgan
Mr. Morgan has not kept it a secret that he is in fact a Gooner. The Daily Mail columnist loves to express his views on what Wenger must do in order to get Arsenal going into the right direction. At times reading his work, you get the feeling that Morgan actually knows what he is talking about. The former Daily Mirror and News of the World editor also enjoys great TV success with ‘Pier’s Morgan’s Life Stories’ and acts as a judge for the popular talent show ‘Britain’s got talent’.
4. Bradley Walsh
For the 2002 F.A Cup final where Arsenal took on Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium, Sky Sports invited Walsh to take part in the infamous fan zone booth and commentate alongside Tim Lovejoy. Walsh represented his beloved Arsenal whilst Lovejoy was backing his Blues. Arsenal won 2-0 that day with goals by Ray Parlour and Freddie Ljungberg. The most memorable part of listening to the two was when Ray Parlour picked up the ball in the centre of the park and headed for goal. Lovejoy commentated ‘Oh no he’s put him through…oh It’s alright it’s only Ray Parlour’ and before he knew it the Arsenal man curled a 25-yard beauty into the top corner sparking Walsh to go absolutely bonkers and replied back to Lovejoy by saying ’that is Ray Parlour, that is the goal of the season, that is a goal’. It was one of the biggest clangers in the history of commentary by Tim Lovejoy, but a hilarious one at that which started an ‘it’s only Ray Parlour’ trend. The 50-year-old English comedian and actor is a legendary Gooner fan just for that.
Check out Walsh’s commentary, its hilarious:
3. Kevin Costner
The famous actor best known for his role in the 1991 hit movie Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, confessed his love and support to Arsenal football club when he was invited to watch the Gunners play during the making of the film:
“When I came over and made Robin Hood I got a chance to go see a football game and it happened to be Arsenal. They invited me as their guest and I didn’t know what to expect, and I was blown away. I didn’t realise how emotional it can be in the stands. I didn’t realise that people sang and did all that and I was moved by it.”
Kevin Costner remains a loyal fan to this day and a very famous one at that.
2. Alan Davies
Alan Davies had to make the list for sure. The British comedian, writer and actor is best known for starring in the mystery series ‘Jonathan Creek,’ is an enormous Arsenal fan and merits this by being a season ticket holder at the Emirates Stadium. The 44-year-old Brit also hosts the greatly popular ‘It’s up for grabs now’ podcast, which takes a jocular look at what’s going on in the club. A definite top 10 celebrity Gooner.
1. Nick Hornby
Nick Hornby is a well known author who is particularly identified with his football novel ‘Fever Pitch’ which was released in 1992. It tells the story of the author’s relationship with football and his loveable Arsenal football club. The story behind the novel was converted into a movie which was produced and directed in 1997 By Hornby himself, and has been a major hit with many males up and down the country for several years now. A truly iconic Arsenal and football fan, who deserves a lot of praise for persuading many with his book and film to get involved with the beautiful game.
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Click on image below to see the BRAZILIAN babes at the World Cup