The Queen is a Gunner

Aston Villa may be able to claim the support of a future monarch, but the current incumbent supports Arsenal, it has emerged.

The Queen, like her late mother, has been a keen follower of the Gunners for 50 years according to reports.

Second in line to the throne, Prince William is widely recognised to be a fan of Aston Villa. He was born in 1982, the year the Midlands giants won the European Cup.

Players and officials of Arsenal 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.

Arsenal's Spanish midfielder Cesc Fabregas said the Queen told him that she was a fan.

"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," he said.

A royal source told The Sun newspaper: "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."

Compton, who played for England at football and cricket, won the league with Arsenal in 1948 and the FA Cup in 1950.

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