Arsenal star arrested

An Arsenal star was arrested today over a brawl after a football awards party.

Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, 19, was said to be involved in a five-man punch-up in the street outside the Cafe Royal's Elysium nightclub.

One man suffered head injuries and was taken to hospital.

Detectives will today question the Dutchman, who is considered one of the Premiership's most exciting prospects. Two other men were also arrested.

A fight broke out early today after the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) Player awards.

An argument was said to have started and one man was surrounded by four others. He was punched in the head and fell to the ground. One witness said: "It was chaos. There had been trouble all evening at the party, with scuffles involving security as some partygoers were thrown out of the club."

The PFA awards were held at the Grosvenor Hotel and saw Chelsea and England star John Terry named as the Premiership's player of the year.

The party at the Elysium attracted a number of members of the So Solid Crew rap group.

Police arrested Owusu-Abeyie and a 28-year-old man at the scene. They later also arrested a 35- year- old man. A police spokesman said: "Officers were called to the Shaftesbury Avenue area at 3am to reports of a fight in progress. They arrived to discover a man in his twenties who had suffered injuries to his head.

"It is understood the fight took place outside the Café Royal and involved himself and four other men.

"A 19-year-old man and a 28-year-old man were arrested immediately. A 35-year-old man was arrested later and they all remain in custody. They will be questioned today."

The injured man was not said to have suffered serious head injuries but was kept in hospital overnight for checks. He is expected to be released today.

Among the stars at the club were Liberty X singer Michelle Heaton, Aleesha Dixon, formerly of Misteeq and showjumper Oliver Skeete.

Owusu-Abeyie joined Arsenal from Dutch club Ajax in the summer of 2002.

He made his first team debut in October 2003 and scored his first goal for the club against Everton in November last year.

He is regarded as one of the most promising prospects and part of Arsenal's "new generation" of young players.

The incident comes after Owusu-Abeyie's former teammate Jermaine Pennant finished a jail term for drink-driving. Earlier this month Newcastle star Lee Bowyer was charged with violent conduct after he attempted to punch teammate Kieron Dyer during a match against Aston Villa.

At the awards ceremony the PFA Young Player Award went to 19-year-old Manchester United and England striker Wayne Rooney.

Shaka Hislop received the Special Merit Award, after his involvement with the "Show Racism The Red Card" campaign.