Conor McGregor enjoys kickabout with Arsenal stars Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka after Gunners beat PSG - as UFC fans joke he is doing 'every side quest but fighting'

Conor McGregor was spotted having a kickabout with Arsenal stars Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka following the Gunners victory in the Champions League on Tuesday.

Arsenal enjoyed an impressive 2-0 victory over French champions Paris Saint-Germain with Kai Havertz and Saka on target.

The result boosted Arsenal's impressive start in the new look league format of the competition, with Mikel Arteta's side boasting a win and draw from their opening two matches.

Rice and Saka were joined post-match by UFC star McGregor, with the Irish fighter testing out his skills at the Emirates.

McGregor could be seen spraying some left footed passes to the Arsenal stars at the empty stadium.

UFC star Conor McGregor, left, joined Arsenal's Declan Rice pitchside on Tuesday night

McGregor was spotted playing at the Emirates after Arsenal's Champions League victory

He was also seen passing the ball to Buyako Saka in front of empty stands following the match

Conor McGregor is loving life on the Emirates turf 😅

🎥 @LaurensJulien pic.twitter.com/RqFCVXxFs6 — Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) October 1, 2024

Rice later shared a photo with McGregor on social media, writing 'Big win & a pleasure to meet you.'

UFC fans were quick to comment on McGregor's presence, with several highlighting his continued absence from the Octagon.

The UFC superstar last fought in July 2021, losing to Dustin Poirier in his trilogy bout at UFC 264 and suffering a broken leg.

His much-anticipated octagon comeback against Michael Chandler in June was scuppered after he broke a toe in his left foot in training, but it is hoped he will make a return in 2025.

'Doing every side quest but fighting,' one fan wrote.

Another added 'In the past year we’ve seen Conor do everything but fight. We’ve seen him act in a Hollywood movie. We’ve seen him buy his own fight promotion. And now we’ve seen him play football with premier league footballers.

'But all we really want to see is him fight in the UFC octagon…'

Despite joining Arsenal stars on the pitch at the Emirates, McGregor has been open in his support for a rival Premier League club.

Fans joked about McGregor's presence at the Emirates as they await his UFC return

Saka had earlier scored to help Arsenal beat Paris Saint-Germain 2-0 in the Champions League

McGregor, a Man United fan, has not fought in the UFC since a defeat to Dustin Poirier in 2021

Speaking to FIFA in 2021, McGregor confirmed he is a Manchester United fan, highlighting their former Irish stars Denis Irwin and Roy Keane as key influences behind his decision.

'I was more a player than a watcher back then, but Manchester United was my team,' McGregor said.

'I was attracted to the success and winning mentality of the club and people surrounded by United. Irish legends like Denis Irwin and Roy Keane were dedicated to their craft and had that winning mentality.

'Roy Keane was one of the best midfielders European football has ever seen. Opponents would be mentally beaten before they’d even stepped on to the pitch to face him.

'Then they had the don of football at the helm, the legendary Sir Alex Ferguson.'

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