Former Arsenal cult hero looks unrecognisable as he tucks into large beer stein ahead of Champions League final

A former Arsenal cult hero looked totally unrecognisable as he enjoyed a beer ahead of the Champions League final in Munich last week.

The ex-Premier League star was seen tucking into a stein of beer alongside former Hull City and Russia manager Leonid Slutsky before attending PSG's thrilling 5-0 thrashing of Inter Milan on Saturday - as Luis Enrique's side lifted their first ever Champions League trophy.

The 44-year-old, who scored 31 goals in 144 appearances for the Gunners, appeared scarcely recognisable as he sported a blue cap, completing his new look with black glasses and a white t-shirt.

Nicknamed the 'baby faced assassin' by some, the Russian also appeared to be tucking into a sausage and chips.

The former winger moved to the Emirates for £15million in 2009 from Zenit St Petersburg and enjoyed a succesful four-year stint under Arsene Wenger.

He is best known for a remarkable individual cameo where he scored four times at Anfield in a scintillating eight-goal draw against Liverpool in 2009.

It is indeed Andrey Arshavin.

The retired forward, who played 75 times for Russia, is also lauded by Gunners fans for sweeping in the winner against Barcelona to stun the Spaniards 2-1 in their Champions League round of 16 clash in 2011.

Despite his heroic status, fans were still unable to recognise his new look.

'He looks so innocent and... Normal here... Can't believe he's the same guy who scored four against Liverpool,' one fan wrote on social media.

'He looks like a science teacher,' another added.

One fan said: 'Imagine seeing him at a beerhall and he's like, 'Yeah I played in the Premier League for Arsenal.'

Another wrote: 'That guy put four past Liverpool, let that sink in.'

It's not the first time that Arshavin has surprised Arsenal fans with his new appearance.

He shocked fans by wearing a woolly hat and large black glasses while taking the London overground to watch Tottenham beat Fulham 2-0 in 2023.

After leaving Arsenal in 2013, Arshavin returned to Zenit, before moving to Russian side Kuban Krasnodar.

He finished his career at Kazakh club Kairat in 2018 and now holds a backroom position at Zenit.