Arsenal striker Thierry Henry and manager Arsene Wenger met the Queen and afterwards the Frenchmen backed England’s bid to have football’s premier event back in the country.

Wenger said “This is the country which created the game, and it would be completely normal to get the World Cup back here”.

The meeting with the Queen had been organised as a back problem had prevented her majesty attending the opening of the Gunner’s new Emirates Stadium earlier in the year.

“The stadiums here are amazing, and the fans are amazing,” Arsenal captain and World Cup winner Henry said, “It is normal and fine that the competition comes back here”.