The Arsenal goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny is facing a reported £20,000 fine for smoking in the showers after the Gunners’ 2-0 defeat to Southampton on New Year’s Day.
The 24-year-old Poland goalkeeper is alleged to have left his manager Arsène Wenger furious when he lit up following the defeat at St Mary’s in which Szczesny endured a torrid match, at fault for both of Southampton’s goals.
The former Arsenal midfielder John Jensen has subsequently alleged that Szczesny has suffered a major falling-out with Wenger and would not feature for the London club again this season – a claim denied by Arsenal. Szczesny was absent for the FA Cup third round victory over Hull, in which David Ospina started, and while that might have always been Wenger’s intention, it remains to be seen whether Szczesny will feature in the Premier League against Stoke on Sunday.
Wenger has encountered similar problems with members of his squad before and has previously publicly reprimanded Jack Wilshere for smoking, saying: “I disagree completely with that behaviour. When you are a football player you are an example and you don’t do what damages your health.” Following that talking to in October 2013, Wilshere was again photographed smoking while on holiday in Las Vegas last summer but on that occasion Wenger’s response was more measured. He said: “I am not deeply concerned by it but I just want to know what happened.”
