So you heard about the LA Lakers cheerleaders then? Premiership stars turn out to see Beckham's favourite team

Premiership stars swapped their footballs for basketballs last night as they turned out en masse to watch the LA Lakers at London's O2 Arena.But not being a particularly popular sport in the UK, could it have been the team's world famous cheerleaders that lured them across London on a cold and wet evening?Stars from Arsenal and Chelsea were snapped in their VIP front row seats at the sold out pre-season game against the Minnesota Timberwolves.

Arsenal stars (L-R) Robin van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen, Cesc Fabregas and Carlos Vela watch the LA Lakers - and their cheerleaders - as the O2 Arena last night

A perfect spot to watch the match - and check out the scantily-clad ladies dancing their socks off before and during the game.Maybe they'd had a word with David Beckham who is a regular at the LA Lakers games in Los Angeles, and has been snapped a couple of times cheekily checking out the cheerleaders.The Laker Girls performed their energetic routines in yellow shorts and cropped tops that showed off their toned midriffs.

Gimme an L! The LA Lakers cheerleaders entertain the crowd during a break in the match

Costume change: The girls swap their yellow skimpy outfits for purple ones as they strut their stuff on the courtThey also treated their delighted onlookers to a costume change and came out for another number in tiny purple skirts and cropped tops.But while they may have been the main attraction for some, let's not forget there was actually a basketball game going on.

The girls swap their yellow skimpy outfits for purple ones as they strut their stuff on the court

Hello there! David Beckham was caught checking out a cheerleader's derriere when he attended a game two years ago

And there was a lot of famous faces in the crowd at the Docklands venue who had come to watch the Lakers and the Timberwolves in action.Snapped in the front row was four of Arsenal's biggest stars who had taken the night off and headed east for the big game.

Feeling a bit skint, van Persie? The Arsenal stars watch mega multi-millionaire Kobe Bryant in action for the Lakers

Robin van Persie, Thomas Vermaelen, Francesc Fabregas and Carlos Vela sat together and looked as though they were having a great night as they laughed and chatted together and attentively watched the game.Also in the audience was Sunderland stars Darren Bent and Anton Ferdinand, West Ham's Carlton Cole, Manchester City's Joleon Lescott and Shaun Wright Phillips, Fulham's Bobby Zamora and Aston Villa's Steve Sidwell.

Sunderland's Darren Bent and West Ham's Carlton Cole were also at the game

Manchester City's Joleon Lescott and Fulham's Bobby Zamora - who is nursing a broken leg - were also at the O2

They were joined by Chelsea star Ashley Cole and Tottenham Hotspur defender William Gallas.And while most of the footballers command thousand and thousands of pounds wages every week, their salaries look rather measly compared to last night's biggest star in the arena - Kobe Bryant.The 6ft 6in star earns approximately £16million each year, making the Premiership stars seem practically skint in comparison.

Shooting guard Kobe Bryant leaves his opponents in his wake as he races up the court

Laker's Steve Blake storms round a Minnesota player - but it wasn't enough and the Lakers lost 92 to 111

And he admitted last night that he probably wouldn't have played but did to repay British basketball fans. He only managed six minutes on the court, as he continues to nurse a knee injury, and the Lakers ended up losing 92 to 111.But he said: '(The fans) were really the only reason I played.

There was a sense of responsibility to get out there and play . When we fly all this way to get here and the fans come out you feel a responsibility to get in there and play a bit.'Also among the celebrity fans last night was comedian James Corden, JLS, Lewis Hamilton's father Anthony and Radio 1 DJ Chris Moyles, who was snapped sitting with his show's sports presenter Tina Daheley.

Chris Moyles was joined at the game by his show's sports presenter Tina Daheley