Jack Wilshere Apologises for Smoking Scandal
Opeyemi Oladunjoye
Arsenal midfielder, Jack Wilshere has expressed his regrets over smoking, admitting he made a mistake after he was photographed with a cigarette in a Las Vegas pool.
The 22-year-old England international was widely criticised when the image appeared following his country’s group-stage exit at the World Cup. It is the second time in nine months Wilshere has been caught smoking.
“Of course I regret it,” he said. “It’s unacceptable and I will accept the consequences and move on.”
In October, Wilshere was pictured with a cigarette outside a London nightclub after a Champions League win over Napoli.
Manager, Arsene Wenger criticised Wilshere and said he would talk to him about the issue.
“I’ve been seen before doing it,” he said. “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 okay for a footballer to smoke because it’s not.
“This is a big season for me,” he said of the upcoming season. “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 in to the season.”
