• Premier League

Wilshere says sorry for smoking on holiday

Jack Wilshere admits it was "unacceptable" for him to smoke on holiday in Las Vegas after reportedly being warned by Arsene Wenger that he risks throwing away his career.

The Arsenal midfielder received heavy criticism after being photographed smoking and drinking in a hotel swimming pool earlier this month following England's early exit at the World Cup.

Jack Wilshere started in Arsenal's 1-0 defeat to the New York Red Bulls © Getty Images

Enlarge

Related Links

• News: Wenger admits to £16m Chambers gamble
  
• News: Wenger curses 'nightmare' World Cup
  
• News: Arsenal confirm Ospina signing
  
• News: Arsenal fall to Red Bulls defeat
  
• News: Arsenal bid for Southampton's Chambers
  
• News: Ospina has joined Arsenal, says Nice boss
  

"The smoking? Of course I regret it," Wilshere said. "I've been seen before doing it. I said then I made a mistake and I have made a mistake again. People make mistakes.

"I'm young and I'll 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's OK for a footballer to smoke because it's not. It's unacceptable and I will accept the consequences and I will move on."

Wilshere returned to pre-season training three days early after the incident and has since held talks with Wenger at London Colney.

The Daily Mirror report that Wenger told Wilshere, 22, he could fail to fulfill his potential if he doesn't change his habits, having expressed his disappointment last season when Wilshere was pictured smoking outside a London nightclub.

Having seen his Arsenal career stalled by a series of injury setbacks in recent years, Wilshere admits he will have to prove himself in the coming season.

"It does motivate me to try harder in training and not just in training," Wilshere, speaking after coaching some New York children in an Arsenal clinic on their pre-season trip to America, added.

"It motivates me to improve because a lot of people have started to talk [about me] - people who don't know me but want to have an opinion. Now and it is down to me.

"This is a big season for me. I came back early to pre-season to show people my commitment. I am fully committed to the club and to my job and I want to show everyone that.

"Over the past few seasons I've had a few injuries. This season I'm looking to have a really great pre-season and get a really good base of fitness and take that into the season."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd