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Arsene Wenger scolds Jack Wilshere over smoking incident

By on October 4, 2013
"Who, me?" Jack Wilshere seems to say after pictured smoking outside a nightclub

“Who, me?” Jack Wilshere seems to say after pictured smoking outside a nightclub

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has heavily criticized Jack Wilshere after the English midfielder was pictured outside of a London club reportedly smoking, labeling the starlet’s behavior as unacceptable.  Wilshere was pictured by the Sun newspaper smoking a cigarette outside a nightclub in the early hours of Thursday after starting on the bench during Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Napoli less then 24 hours before, although the midfielder claims it to have only been taking part in a “prank.”

Wilshere claims he was only taking part in a dare

Wilshere claims he was only taking part in a dare

Saying he was only participating in a “dare” to hold the lit cigarette to his lips Wilshere held the firm belief the he is “utterly committed to fitness and a healthy lifestyle.”

Yet Wenger had a different viewpoint of the incident, saying:  “Well, I disagree completely with that behavior. I need to have a chat with him about that.

“There are two things. First of all, when you are a footballer you are an example, and [second], you don’t do what damages your health.

“The fact is that you can damage your health at home. You can drink at home but nobody sees it. But when you do it in public, you damage your reputation as well.”

Before undergoing what would have been a serious and demanding talk with his manager Wilshere tried to cover up his tracks, but really only made it worse when he Tweeted a picture of former World Player of the Year Zinedine Zidane smoking.

 

Wilshere still remains a critically player for Arsenal’s future and at only 21 years of age the English international has already made 68 appearances for Arsenal despite an injury plagued career. He made his Premier League debut at the age of sixteen before earning ten England caps, and Wilshere has been regarded as the new Steven Gerrard and Frank Lampard for nearly five years. Wenger also stands by this mentality and maintains his belief that the former PFA Young Player of the Year has an important role to play in the futures of both Arsenal and England’s national side.

“He’s a very important player here,” Wenger said. “All my plans for the future at the club have been built around Jack and with Jack. We have had some setbacks with him, a lot, but he is a very important player in my squad.”

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.