Arsene Wenger unhappy with Jack Wilshere after smoking pic.
Jack Wilshere will face a dressing down by Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger after being pictured smoking a cigarette outside a London night club.
The midfielder was photographed puffing away on Tuesday night, following the Gunners’ 2-0 Champion League victory over Napoli.
Wenger said he disagreed with the behaviour but refused to discuss whether or not the 21-year-old midfielder would face any disciplinary action.
“I disagree completely with that behaviour,” said Wenger. “I need to have a chat with him about that.
“You don’t do what damages your health as a footballer. You damage your reputation when you do that in public.”
Ask Jack Wilshere… “@John_W_Henry: What do you think they’re smoking over there at Emirates?” pic.twitter.com/GIutZcP9v9
— Stupid Football (@StupidFootball) October 4, 2013
“I don’t know what happened so I can’t talk about any punishment,” continued Wenger.
Wenger accepted that there have been many former footballers who smoked but said English culture made Wilshere’s actions unacceptable.
“Yes of course things are different, in England especially,” he said.
“You don’t need to convince me because I must tell you, I travelled as a football player on coaches after games in France where you didn’t see each other, there was so much smoke on the coach. Everybody smoked, but times have changed, and the healthy worry, the example, the role models from the football players request has changed as well.
“I must say as well, English society is very sensitive to smoking, much more than France, more than and southern (European) countries, so it is a bit more shocking here than it is somewhere else.”
A spokesperson for Wilshere said the midfielder was holding the cigarette as a ‘prank’.
“Jack was with team-mates and friends. One dared Jack, who does not smoke, to momentarily hold the cigarette as part of a prank.”
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