Mysterious Highbury squirrel

A squirrel found a way onto the Highbury pitch during the Champions League match on Wednesday night. PHOTO: AFP

The fate of the bright-eyed and bushy-tailed pitch invader which stunned fans at a London stadium by bringing the Champions League semifinal to a standstill was shrouded in mystery Thursday.

The grey squirrel stormed onto the Highbury pitch and treated fans to a 15-minute cameo during Wednesday's first leg match between Arsenal and Spanish side Villarreal, finishing its star turn by leaping into the crowd.

But Arsenal apparently have no idea what happened next to the plucky rodent.

Internet chatrooms were buzzing with post-match debate on where the mystery squirrel came from, what to call it and what became of the pitch invader, which caused referee Konrad Plautz to halt the game.

An Arsenal spokesman declined to comment on the squirrel's whereabouts, but it is understood that officials have no idea about what happened to it after it sprung over the hoardings and into the North Bank stand.

Fans chanted songs to cheer on the squirrel, which jumped out from the West Stand and dashed around unhindered before switching flanks, where players tried to tackle the fleet-footed newcomer.

Gunners boss Arsene Wenger was impressed with the squirrel's performance. "He was quite fast -- and dribbling," the Frenchman said.