Jack Wilshere could find himself in more trouble with Arsenal and manager Arsene Wenger, after pictures of him holding a shisha pipe at a nightclub, went viral on the Internet.
The 23-year-old is currently recovering from ankle surgery and is in line to return to first-team action by the end of February.
A picture of Wilshere and his friends at a London nightclub was uploaded on Instagram, before it was removed and then reposted on Twitter, sparking criticism and debate.
The midfielder has been involved in two previous incidents where he was photographed with a cigarette and speaking in July, he said: “The smoking? Of course I regret it. I have been seen before doing it. I said then I made a mistake and I have made a mistake again. People make mistakes.
“I am young and I will learn from it. I realise the consequences it has and the effect on kids growing up.
“I have kids myself and I don’t want them growing up to think their dad smokes and it is OK for a footballer to smoke, because it’s not. It is unacceptable and I will accept the consequences and I will move on.”
Wenger spoke out against footballers who smoke last month, after Wojciech Szczesny was reportedly caught smoking in the showers, after Arsenal’s 2-0 defeat at Southampton on January 1. The Poland goalkeeper has not featured in the Premier League ever since.
“Players here are judged on their performances. Ideally, the best way to have a high level of performance as possible is to follow the rules that allow you to perform,” Wenger said.
“Human beings are human beings, with their strengths and weaknesses. We know this is not good. Overall, these players are professional.
“Wilshere was on holiday [when he was caught smoking]. You cannot control the players on holiday.”
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