Wojciech Szczesny and 10 Current Footballers Who Have Been Caught Smoking
Wojciech Szczesny endured a rough start to the new year, making errors that led to Southampton's 2-0 win over Arsenal at St Mary's.
The Polish shot stopper apparently landed himself in further trouble when he was caught smoking in the shower after the game (it's not clear whether the water was running at the time, but the smart money says it wasn't).
For his indulgence in the filthy habit, Szczesny has reportedly been slapped with a £20,000 fine, which might make him thinking twice about lighting up at work again.
The beleaguered 'keeper is by no means the first player—or even the first Arsenal player—to be caught out with a cigarette. Here are 10 current footballers who have been known to take a drag or two...
Jack Wilshere
1 of 10
Szczesny isn't the only man in the Emirates dressing room guilty of a tobacco habit: Jack Wilshere has twice been caught smoking.
Once was outside a nightclub and the other time was in a pool in Las Vegas with Joe Hart and Boring James Milner, where Wilshere was lucky enough to have a friend hold the cigarette to his mouth for him.
"Wow #Jack Wilshere Is Having fun..bt smoking I'm suprised pic.twitter.com/BGcu5gdusx
— Kenny Makhonza (@ViweKenny) August 4, 2014"
The Gunners midfielder apologised for his conduct and reprimanded himself, saying: "I have kids myself and I don't want them growing up thinking it's ok for a footballer to smoke because it's not."
Marouane Chamakh
2 of 10
What is it with smoking and Arsenal?
Wilshere's former colleague Marouane Chamakh managed to create a whirlwind of controversy in April 2012 when he was caught smoking a shisha pipe with Adel Taarabt, whose QPR side had just beaten the Gunners.
Arsene Wenger was reportedly left "fuming" by the incident (pun obviously intended), but perhaps his players were only imitating their leader: The Frenchman who was known to frequently smoke on the touchline in his Monaco days.
Ashley Cole
3 of 10
Here's one more Arsenal alumnus for good measure.
Smoking remains a surprisingly popular pastime in Italy, but apparently it hasn't helped Ashley Cole ingratiate himself into the capital.
According to the Daily Mail in 2013, the former Gunners defender has displayed evidence of a "chain smoking habit" during his downtime.
To be fair, there are worse things a footballer could do with their spare time, like shoot people, go on Twitter rants or be unfaithful to their popstar wives.
Mario Balotelli
4 of 10If Mario Balotelli's form doesn't improve, his career is going to disappear in a puff of smoke, which is ironic for a world-class striker who has been caught smoking on several occasions.
The Liverpool star makes little effort to hide his bad habit and was once caught smoking on the train on the way to a game.
Wayne Rooney
5 of 10
Despite his immense God-given talent, Wayne Rooney often struggles with fitness and weight issues, particularly at the start of the season.
This might be because he's known to enjoy the odd tipple and a cigarette away from the pitch, as displayed in candid pictures from his Las Vegas holidays and the time he was caught "smoking and urinating in the street."
In 2013, Joey Barton claimed the Manchester United star wasn't among the truly elite players like Cristiano Ronaldo because he spent too much time with his friends Lambert and Butler.
Dimitar Berbatov
6 of 10
Fulham legend Rodney Marsh once accused Dimitar Berbatov of "walking around like he is wearing an overcoat, smoking a cigar," such is his relaxed demeanour.
The laid-back Bulgarian might not literally light up on the field, but he has certainly been spotted smoking many times while off duty.
When quizzed about his habit by Sam Wallace of the Independent, the Monaco star denied he was a smoker, instead claiming to be a poser: "Sometimes when you see a picture I just pretend to smoke to make me more of a cool guy."
Sure, Dimi. Sure.
Gigi Buffon
7 of 10
With his Don Draper-eque swagger, phenomenal sporting ability and salon-quality hair, there are some who would argue that Gigi Buffon is the coolest man in football.
Something that is neither big nor clever, however, is the Juventus goalkeeper's predilection for a cheeky ciggy. If you look very closely in this picture for several minutes, you will eventually see Buffon indulging in some smoking.
Aaron Lennon
8 of 10
Tottenham winger Aaron Lennon is one of the fastest players in the game, despite the fact that his lungs are occasionally damaged by smoke.
Hours after England's 2010 World Cup defeat at the hands of Germany, Lennon was spotted puffing on a huge cigar while contemplating the Three Lions' exit from the tournament. A few months later, Metro claimed that Harry Redknapp instructed his player to "lay off the fags."
Fabio Coentrao
9 of 10
In March 2012, Fabio Coentrao decided that the best way to ring in his 24th birthday would be with a delicious cigarette outside his own party.
Here he is with Cristiano Ronaldo looking like a naughty schoolchild who has snuck behind the bike sheds.
The Real Madrid defender was caught red-handed but defended himself by saying it was "only an occasional thing" and that he is an "excellent professional."
Mesut Ozil
10 of 10
Mesut Ozil landed himself in trouble with the German press in the summer of 2011 when he was spotted on a yacht taking a puff of a cigarette.
Rather than confess his sin and promise to reform, Ozil claimed it was all a misunderstanding. "It was because I lost a bet and therefore only a one-time thing," he reasoned. "I assure you: I do not smoke."
These days, the Arsenal midfielder probably doesn't spend his summers on yachts full on men daring each other to smoke.
