Football fans are 'baffled' to find out who Arsenal legend Paul Merson supports

Football fans have been left shocked after discovering who pundit Paul Merson supports.

Merson, 55, enjoyed a hugely impressive playing career before retiring in 2006 and embarking upon a career in the media.

After graduating from Arsenal's academy, he played more than 300 times for the Gunners and similarly enjoyed successful spells with Aston Villa, Middlesbrough, Portsmouth and Walsall - who he also managed.

The former forward won 21 caps for England and represented the Three Lions at Euro 1992 and the 1998 World Cup.

It has never been quite clear who Merson - who is a regular on Sky Sports' flagship football show Soccer Saturday - supports, with most assuming he has closest links to Arsenal, given his history at the club.

However, Merson's allegiances have come to the fore over recent days following Tottenham's 4-1 defeat to Chelsea on Monday in one of the most frenetic Premier League encounters of all time.

And it turns the former Arsenal academy graduate is actually a fan of Mauricio Pochettino's side, leaving football fans across the UK in shock.

Merson's love for the Blues has not been well known but ahead of their victory over Spurs, the pundit had said on Sky Sports: 'I'm very confident for Chelsea on Monday night. I'll be shocked if they lose.'

He received significant criticism for this prediction given Spurs' previously unbeaten start and Chelsea's early season struggles.

However, after the game concluded, he took to social media again and added: ''All them people that called me clueless, hope your off to bed. COYB,' with the last part of that message referring to 'Come on You Blues' - a common call for Chelsea supporters.

Merson also replied to another fan who had criticised his prediction and said: 'You will have