Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere needs to “master his own life” after being pictured this week holding a shisha pipe at a London night club, his manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday.
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The England international, who has not played since November due to injury, had been photographed smoking on two previous occasions.
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“I have spoken with him about that — he is not a smoker,” Wenger told reporters the day before the north London derby against Tottenham Hotspur.
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“He is sorry about what happened, but he has to master his own life.
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“When he is here, he has to follow the rules. This photo has been taken at half past 12 after the Superbowl (at the weekend).
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“I don’t know what happened really. Away from the club, it is his responsibility to master his life.
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“Today, everywhere you go people make photos, but one second of your life does not define who you are.”
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Wilshere responded to the photo by posting a video of himself on his Instagram account working hard in training.
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“Worry about your character not your reputation, because your character is who you are and your reputation is only what people who don’t know you think about you,” Wilshere wrote.
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Wilshere was photographed smoking outside a London nightclub in October 2013 and again at Las Vegas pool party last year.
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The 23-year-old, who is recovering from an ankle injury, will miss Saturday’s match at White Hart Lane along with Arsenal’s in-form striker Alexis Sanchez who has a hamstring injury.
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“It’s not easy to tell him he’s not playing. He wants to play — he’s so keen,” Wenger said of the Chile striker.
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“But we have enough offensive power. We don’t need to worry about being short on that front.”
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Danny Welbeck is due to return to the starting lineup after a month out with a thigh injury for what is traditionally one of the most keenly contested fixtures of the season.
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Arsenal make the short trip to White Hart Lane lying fifth in the Premier League, one place and two points ahead of Spurs who are also in good form.
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Wenger downplayed the importance of being the away team.
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“In the derbies the home ground is not too significant. We just focus on the quality of our game and performance,” he said.
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Arsenal have only won at Spurs once in the last six years – last season’s 1-0 victory – and have only been beaten at home by Spurs once in the League since 1993.
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