Andrey Arshevin, a Russian soccer star newly transferred to Arsenal, has his own clothing line “ranging from dresses to sportswear” in his native country, where it is popular with women.

Arshavin, from a working-class family in St Petersburg, enrolled in the St Petersburg State University of Technology and Design aged 17, originally studying chemical technology, but taking up sewing because of the number of women on the course.

Sounds like my youth.  I originally spent all my time taking karate classes and wrestling bears, but I couldn’t help noticing that all the girls were doing different stuff, so I gravitated to what they did.  Stuff like choir and ballet and cheerleading.  And wearing makeup.  Long story short, a lot of girls say I’m their best girlfriend.