Thierry Henry, Didier Drogba, Cesc Fabregas, Idris Elba, Liam Payne all courtside for Milwaukee Bucks beating of New York Knicks

The O2 Arena was packed out last night

(NBAE/Getty Images)

Current stars and former greats of the sporting world were out in force watching Milwaukee Bucks 95-79 beating of New York Knicks at London's o2 Arena in their regular season fixture away from the US last night.

Retired Arsenal legend Thierry Henry, the club's record scorer with 228 goals was an eager courtside spectator, sitting in the middle of two current Chelsea players – Didier Drogba, and his old team-mate at Arsenal, Cesc Fabregas.

The 37-year-old Henry, of course, finished his career in the Big Apple late last year, after playing for Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls in the MLS.

Near to Henry was some of Arsenal’s current crop, Per Mertesacker, whose towering 6ft 6in frame looks far more suited to slam dunks than slide tackles, plus Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mathieu Flamini and Serge Gnabry as they take a time-out from preparations for Sunday's crucial Premier League clash at champions Manchester City, a match which Henry will be providing punditry for Sky Sports on his Super Sunday debut.

The Gunners’ rivals on the pitch but not rivals on the court, Stoke City players Jack Butland, Asmir Begovic and Ryan Shawcross all sat close by.

The American duo, Everton 'keeper Tim Howard and Tottenham’s recent signing DeAndre Yedlin, also looked on as the woeful Knicks losing run was extended to 16 games.

Unbeaten heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua, who won Olympic gold just a few miles away in Stratford back in 2012, was also in attendance. The 25-year-old, who has won all of his 10 bouts in devastating fashion, was meant to be fighting veteran Kevin ‘KingPin’ Johnson, 35, in this same arena on 31 January, but was recently ruled out with a back injury.

Away from the realms of sport, actor Idris Elba, star of Luther and The Wire, One Direction’s Liam Payne plus 3/4 of Little Mix were all watching on courtside.