LONDON, April 23 (Reuters) - Arsenal's season has been a
disappointment on the pitch but at least it seems they can still
count on the support of the Queen.
According to a newspaper report on Monday the 81-year-old Queen
Elizabeth, like her late mother, has been a keen follower of the
Gunners for 50 years.
Players and officials of the north London club were invited to a
reception at Buckingham Palace in February after the Queen had to
pull out of opening their new Emirates Stadium in October because
of a bad back.
The report in the Sun quotes Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Cesc
Fabregas as saying the Queen told him she was a fan.
'It seems the Queen follows football and she told us she was an
Arsenal fan,' Fabregas is quoted as saying. 'She appeared to
definitely know who I was and we exchanged a few special
words.'
An unnamed senior royal source also confirms in the article, which
is accompanied by a mocked up photograph of the Queen wearing a red
Arsenal shirt, that she supports the club.
'Her Majesty has been fond of Arsenal for over 50 years,' the
source said. 'Her late mother was a self-confessed Gooner, due
largely to her admiration of their former player Denis
Compton.'
Compton, who played for England at football and cricket, won the
league with Arsenal in 1948 and the FA Cup in 1950.
Buckingham Palace would not confirm whether the Queen was an
Arsenal fan.
'Private conversations she has are confidential and we cannot
comment any further,' a Palace spokesman said.
