Jay-Z Denies Man City Rumours, Reaffirms Arsenal Support

Sorry Sky Blues. Hopes of seeing Jay-Z putting aside his differences with Noel Gallagher over a meat pie and a chorus of "Blue Moon" at Eastlands appear to be over. It's official: Jigga is a Gooner.

The hip-hop megastar was rumoured to share a football passion with the Oasis boys after he was snapped watching Manchester City beat old enemies Manchester United last year, but -- it turns out -- his heart has always lain in N5. "After that game the press started reporting that I was a Manchester City fan," Jay-Z told Arsenal Magazine recently. "I am really glad all that has been cleared up and that everybody in the UK knows that I am an Arsenal fan."

Jay-Z's Arsenal support apparently began around five years ago. "When Thierry Henry was at the club I saw him play and I just thought he was an amazing player," he explained to the 'zine. "Ever since then I have been a big fan of the club, following you guys, and still today you play the beautiful football that Thierry did. I think he had a real long term-effect on the team."

The rapper formerly known as Shawn Carter is a well known sport lover, boasting in 'Empire State of Mind' that he "made the [New York] Yankee cap more famous than a Yankee can," and regularly turning up in courtside seats at local basketball teams the Knicks and the New Jersey Nets. He is also a part-owner of the Nets and has been instrumental in moves to relocate the team to his home borough of Brooklyn.

As for the Gunners, he thinks captain Cesc Fabregas is a "great player" and says that any Hova fans among the current squad are "more than welcome to come to my next concert when I am over in London." He also doesn't rule out acquiring a financial stake in the north London club, saying "I don't know a lot about the business of soccer, but in the future if the right opportunity presented itself, then who knows?"