Freddie Ljungberg, a Swedish midfield player with Arsenal, has hit back at gossip which suggests that he is gay.

Scandinavian media has linked him with Swedish pop singer Peter Joback, who appeared in the musical ‘Miss Saigon’.

Ljungberg said, "I`m a heterosexual. I don`t know that artist, I haven`t even met him. I don`t have a girlfriend for the moment but I`m a heterosexual. These rumours are completely false."

The footballer is not alone in his predicament. Former Middlesbrough striker Mikkel Beck has also been plagued by rumours and bullying about his alleged sexuality.