Arsenal: smoking Jack Wilshere employs the Ozil defence – it was for a bet
ARSENAL star and English football’s great white hope Jack Wilshere has been pictured smoking what looks like a humble cigarette. Bit of a berk smoking a fag when you’re a professional athlete paid a fortune do a job that others would pay to do but he’s an adult and it’s his life. Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says:
“I disagree completely with that behaviour. I need to have a chat with him about that. You don’t do what damages your health as a footballer. You damage your reputation when you do that in public.”
It’s not just the smoking; it’s the opinion of smokers:
“In England especially you don’t need to convince me, because I tried it as a footballer on coaches after a game when you didn’t see each other, there was so much smoke on the coach. But times have changed. And English society is very sensitive to smoking, much more than France, than southern countries, so it’s a bit more shocking here than somewhere else.”
But he wasn’t smoking. Yeah, really. Wilshere’s spokesman says:
“Jack was with team-mates and friends. One dared Jack, who does not smoke, to momentarily hold the cigarette as part of a prank. Jack absolutely didn’t smoke the cigarette, and nor does he condone smoking. Jack is utterly committed to fitness and a healthy lifestyle. In no way is this picture an accurate reflection of his attitude towards smoking.”
Fair enough, then. That excuse worked for Mesut Ozil, who said in 2011:
“I was on a yacht on vacation and so I didn’t notice I was being photographed. Nothing happened until the next day, when I got lots of texts and phone calls from friends. It was because I lost a bet and therefore only a one-time thing. I assure you: I do not smoke.”
Of course, the real fear is that if they do puff away on the occasional ciggie and still run around playing superb football, these Arsenal stars will damage the health and therapy industries.
Posted: 4th, October 2013 | In: Sports Comment | TrackBack | Permalink
