Jack Wilshere Photographed Allegedly Smoking, Arsenal Reportedly Investigating

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has been pictured allegedly smoking, and the Gunners are reportedly investigating the matter further.

Here’s a look at the image in question, courtesy of Eurosport:

According to the Press Association (h/t Eurosport), the picture of the 22-year-old—currently out of the Arsenal side with an ankle injury—with a shisha pipe in hand was posted on Instagram before being deleted.

Nonetheless, it has made its way onto social media, sparking further concerns about the player’s conduct away from the football pitch. It’s stated in the piece that Arsenal are “aware of the photos and are looking into the incident.”

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This isn’t the first time that the England international has been embroiled in comparable controversies. As noted in the previously mentioned article, the player was pictured with cigarette in hand outside a London night club in 2013 and was caught in the act again while on holiday in Las Vegas last summer.

The Eurosport report quotes Wilshere as claiming that smoking was “unacceptable” and that “I am young and I will learn from it” after the incident in 2014.

Manager Arsene Wenger spoke about the issue of players smoking recently when reports surfaced suggesting goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny lit up in the shower after his poor display against Southampton, per the aforementioned piece:

"

Players here are judged on their performances. Ideally, the best way to have a high level of performance as possible is to follow the rules that allow you to perform.

Human beings are human beings, with their strengths and weaknesses. We know this is not good. Overall, these players are professional.

"

Shaun Botterill/Getty Images

With Arsenal flying high without him in the side at the moment and Wenger's stance on the matter clear, this latest faux pas will do little to endear Wilshere to the manager amid the Gunners’ current clutch of classy midfield men.