• Premier League

Pill-popping players worry Wenger

Arsene Wenger believes medication for personal problems are hampering his players © Getty Images

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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has raised concerns about some of his players taking medication to tackle "problems in their life" without the club knowing.

The Frenchman says a few of his stars may be hampering their recovery from injury as a result but the claim has puzzled the club's medical staff, who insist there are no examples to support his remarks.

Wenger, who has asked the club to investigate the spate of injuries suffered by his squad this season, thinks some of Arsenal's problems have been exacerbated by his players popping pill.

Referring to the injury problems, he said: "Some of them are down to the medication that the players take that you don't even know about.

"Then you realise afterwards that they took this medication but that it's not prudent. For example, if you lose your hair and you've taken something to make your hair grow, it might not be good for the rest of your body. Medication always pushes a certain part of the body and is sometimes detrimental to other areas.

"I am surrounded by people who want to enhance their performance because they have another problem in their life and it's not always necessarily a good thing to do.

"The liver does not work so well, the toxins don't leave the body as quickly as they should and the player gets tired. At the moment we have not come to any conclusion. Every case can be different and you need to analyse very deeply why things happen."

Wenger's squad has been hit with injuries, with Theo Walcott missing the rest of the campaign and the likes of Jack Wilshere and Mesut Ozil facing a lengthy period out. Laurent Koscielny and Aaron Ramsey have also been absent from the side, although Ramsey could feature in the clash against Everton on Sunday.

Wenger said Arsenal have missed the "drive" of Ramsey, who has not featured since December after suffering a thigh injury. The manager says the return of the Welshman will be "like a new signing".

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