• Premier League

Arsenal set to deliver Wilshere warning

ESPN staff
July 16, 2014
Jack Wilshere was first caught smoking in October 2013 © PA Photos
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Jack Wilshere will be given another warning by Arsene Wenger after being pictured partying in Las Vegas.

The Daily Mail published photographs of the 22-year-old with a cigarette in his mouth in a swimming pool while on holiday with friends in Las Vegas after the World Cup.

Last October, Wilshere was caught smoking outside a London nightclub. Wilshere apologised for the incident and said: "I made a mistake, players make mistakes, I'm not a smoker".

The Daily Mail also says that Wilshere is set to be reprimanded by Wenger when he returns for pre-season training on Sunday, while the club will "remind him of his responsibilities".

Arsenal manager Wenger, who is reportedly not impressed with Wilshere, criticised his midfielder last year, saying: "I disagree completely with that behaviour.

"There are two things: first of all when you are a football player you are an example, and as well you don't do what damages your health.

"The fact [is] you can damage your health at home, you can smoke at home and you can drink at home, and nobody sees it, but when you go out socially you as well damage your reputation as an example."

Wilshere's off-field antics have led Ashley Cole to tell him to "sort out" his problems.

Cole, who left Chelsea to join Roma, hit out at English players refusing to play in a foreign country because they did not want to get out of their "comfort zone".

The former Arsenal left-back has admitted he used to smoke, but has urged Wilshere to cut it out.

"Everyone talks about footballers having to be professional and be an example, but we don't know if the smoking affects him," he said.

"I don't think it is up to me to tell anyone what to do. I am not the prefect guy. I am not going to give him advice on how to behave. It is down to him to sort out.

"Of course I am not condoning smoking. We don't want smoking. I have smoked before, I have stopped. It didn't really affect me the way I run but of course it's not a good thing to do in public. But he is a young lad and he will learn."

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