NBA star Joel Embiid was named MVP this week, and the basketball star is a big fan of Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side.

PHILADELPHIA, PA: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Brooklyn Nets in the third quarter during Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on April 17, 2023. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA: Joel Embiid #21 of the Philadelphia 76ers reacts against the Brooklyn Nets in the third quarter during Game Two of the Eastern Conference First Round Playoffs at the Wells Fargo Center on April 17, 2023. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)

On Tuesday night, Joel Embiid learned that he’d been named the NBA’s Most Valuable Player for the current season, a huge moment in any basketball player’s career.

https://twitter.com/sixers/status/1653538793180332033

But Embiid only picked up basketball in his teenage years, and he actually grew up playing football.

Born and raised in Cameroon, Embiid admitted he started to become an Arsenal fan because of the French connection at the club.

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“I’ve always been big on French people,” Embiid said. “They’ve always had a lot of French players. Especially Thierry Henry, Robert Pires, all those guys. So that’s how I fell in love with them.”

The basketball star has been following Arsenal closely in recent seasons, tweeting out in celebration when the Gunners scored their last-minute goal against Wolves last season.

Arsenal's Spanish manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 19, 2023. - Arsenal won the game 4-1. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)
Arsenal’s Spanish manager Mikel Arteta applauds fans on the pitch after the English Premier League football match between Arsenal and Crystal Palace at the Emirates Stadium in London on March 19, 2023. (Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Speaking in October, Embiid confirmed he was hoping Arsenal would win the Premier League this campaign, handing out praise to Mikel Arteta and his star players.

“They’re young, hungry, it’s time,” Embiid said. “Last year, they choked, they should have been in a position to get to the Champions League, didn’t get it then.

“But this year, obviously, Gabriel Jesus, he’s been great. And then adding a bunch of other guys, you know Saka has been amazing. I really like Martinelli, he’s still young but he’s already going good. And he’s gonna be even better.

“They’ve got a good core group of young guys and they’re just hungry. Playing hard and you’ve got to give a lot of credit to the coach too, you know. Arteta, he’s been doing a great job.

“I hope so (that Arsenal can win the title) but it’s hard. Man City, year after year they just keep on making it happen. They just keep on figuring it out. Pep, he’s doing a great job with these guys.

“They’ve got a great team, a lot of talent all over the pitch. It’s gonna be tough. I hope so, but I think it’ll be hard.

“Man City is very deep (in terms of squad depth), Arsenal have got a bunch of good players but I don’t think they’re that deep. As you know, when you’re competing in a bunch of competitions, you need to be deep.”

You never know, perhaps Arsenal will get the bit of luck they need to get back on top in the title race and make it a great end to the season for Embiid as a fan.

Meanwhile, Embiid will be focusing on getting fit to help his team, the Philadelphia 76ers, in their play-off clash with the Boston Celtics. They lead the series 1-0.

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