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Arsene Wenger defends Jack Wilshere over nightclub controversy

Football

By Mirror | Apr 07, 2016

Arsene Wenger has spoken out in defence of Jack Wilshere at the end of a controversial week for the midfielder.

Wilshere was filmed speaking to police in the early hours of Sunday morning, after allegedly being expelled from a London nightclub.

That raised fresh concerns over a player whose off-field antics have at times threatened to become a distraction. Wilshere has not played a competitive game this season and is facing a race against time to prove his fitness for Euro 2016.

But Wenger suggested on Thursday morning that the matter had been blown out of proportion, insisting that players have a right to a social life despite their sporting commitments.

The Arsenal manager admitted that he has had words with the 24-year-old, but insisted that he regards the affair as a "private matter" and waxed lyrical about Wilshere's potential.

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“I have spoken to him," said Wenger.

"It looks to be taken out of proportion a little bit. These are matters we like to keep internal.

“There was no training session the next day. He had a day off. You can accept that sometimes the players go out, when they are free the next day over the weekend.

“This is a completely private matter for me. It’s very difficult to speak about it... I don’t know what happened.

“You know as well, he can be provoked. It’s not easy today to go out when you’re well known without creating some provocation. Even when you’re known, you [still] have the right to go out."

Wenger confirmed Arsenal regularly test their players for alcohol and added: “Jack is not a drinker – at all. I don’t even have that worry.

‘Honestly I don’t think he was drinking. He had a hard training session on Monday and he did very well. If he had been heavy drinking on Sunday I don’t think he would have survived.”

The Frenchman confirmed that Wilshere will play for Arsenal Under-21s against Newcastle on Thursday night and hailed the midfielder's work ethic.

“What is positive is that he works very, very hard," continued the Frenchman.

"The news looks quite good. He’ll have a good test tomorrow night."