18 February 2023 , 20:04
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Hollywood star Tom Hanks was spotted celebrating Aston Villa 's opening goal against Arsenal before suffering heartache as the Gunners claimed an injury-time win.
The A-List star of Toy Story, Cast Away and Apollo 13 is a long-time supporter of Villa, though Saturday is the first time he has visited Villa Park. He jetted in and met the squad ahead of their clash with Arsenal.
He also headed out to the pitch where he posed for photos with chief executive Christian Purslow in front of the stadium's famous Holte End. Hanks then took his seat in the director's box and appeared to throw himself into his support of the Villians.
The actor was left delighted just five minutes in when Ollie Watkins fired Villa into the lead. Hanks joined in with the celebrations and was shown on BT Sport shouting "Oh my" as he hugged the person next to him.
Arsenal fought back from that early set back, with Bukayo Saka equalising with a half-volley 10 minutes later. But Hanks was celebrating once again before half time when Phillippe Coutinho finished off a brilliant team move to put the hosts back in front.
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Sadly, that's where the joy ended for the superstar actor, with Arsenal taking control after the break. First, Oleksandr Zinchenko fired in a second equaliser to again level the game.
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But the actor was left disappointed as Arsenal claimed a dramatic win (James Gill - Danehouse/Getty Images)Things got worse in injury time when Emiliano Martinez scored an unfortunate own-goal when Jorginho's shot crashed off the bar and into the net off the Villa keeper's head. Gabriel Martinelli then added a fourth at the death to wrap up the three points.
It was a disappointing end to Hanks' first visit to the Birmingham side, who he first watched in the summer of 2012 when they played the Portland Timbers in a pre-season friendly. Hanks revealed his love for Villa in January 2008 at the premiere of Charlie Wilson's War, though has since admitted he struggles to watch them live.
"Well I've seen one Aston Villa match, it was a friendly in the United States. I try to keep up. I have a very good friend that lives and dies by Aston Villa, he's in Los Angeles as well, so I'm always getting my updates from him," he told Channel 5 in 2013.
"Because I can never figure out what channel the football match is on my grid at home - 583, 643, 801? I can never quite find it.
"Every time I'm looking at the football matches on the soccer channels, as we call it, it's always West Ham playing Man United, Tottenham vs Queens Park Rangers.
"Bring me Villa, bring me Villa! Doesn't it sound like a lovely place, Aston Villa? I had a lovely massage at Aston Villa…"