Jack Wilshere vows to stop smoking

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has admitted he made a “mistake” after being photographed smoking a cigarette outside a London nightclub last week.

The England international’s behaviour drew some criticism, with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger publicly berating his player.

“I disagree completely with that behaviour,” Wenger said last week. “I don’t know what has happened and I will have to have a chat with him about that.”

But Wilshere, who scored Arsenal’s equaliser during Sunday’s 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion, says he knows he was in the wrong.

“Players make mistakes,” he told Arsenal’s official website. “I am not a smoker. I spoke with the boss and he asked me what happened, I explained to him and we sorted it out.

“He put me in the team and hopefully I repaid him. I am not a smoker so I think that will be my last [cigarette].”

England manager Roy Hodgson also got involved prior to Wilshere’s admission, but said the issue was Arsenal’s responsibility.

He said: “I trust Arsene to deal with that situation.”

Lest we forget, this was a cigarette Wilshere was caught smoking, not a crack pipe.

Arsenal fans, who unlike their manager, could see the funny side of the situation, sang “He smokes what he wants” during Sunday’s match at West Brom.

“Love the new song for me today! Ha Ha,” tweeted Wilshere after the game. “The fans were incredible again!”