Arsenal's Marouane Chamakh Caught in Smoking Lounge Following Loss

Considering how rare his appearances for Arsenal have been this season, Marouane Chamakh might be forgiven for asking, "What's the big deal?"

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger is reportedly outraged that his little-used forward was caught smoking a shisha pipe following his team's 2-1 loss to QPR.

The shisha is a pipe normally used to smoke fruit-flavored tobacco.

It couldn't have soothed Wenger's rage to see that Chamakh's smoking buddy for the evening was QPR's Adel Taarabt, the player who had scored his team's first goal in the Arsenal loss just hours before.

The incident comes as Chamakh's name circulates on the transfer rumor mill. He is said to be one of the high-salaried fringe players Arsenal are looking to clear out in the summer.

Recent reports have French side Paris Saint-Germain coming in with a $10 million bid for Chamakh.

For his part, the player says he intends to stay at Arsenal. (From ESPN.com.)

"

I have spoken to Wenger and I will stay at Arsenal. I think he trusts my work and I will have opportunities in the first team.

I left Bordeaux to improve as a player and I think I can continue for this club. My agents have been ordered to reject bids that come from other clubs because I want to prove I can be useful for the Gunners.

"

Chamakh earns more than $95,000 per week at Arsenal. For that price, the Gunners have gotten just seven starts, 17 total appearances and one goal across all competitions this season.

QPR manager Mark Hughes seems to be taking a less "outraged" stance and says he will talk to Taarabt about the incident.