Jack Wilshere shisha pipe picture: Arsenal midfielder reignites smoking storm with nightclub photo

The pictures were reportedly taken last weekend

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere (Getty Images)

The Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has found himself at the centre of another smoking row after pictures emerged last night of the England international holding a shisha pipe at a nightclub.

Wilshere is currently recovering from ankle surgery after an injury in the defeat by Manchester United in November and is expected to be in contention for a first-team return by the end of the month.

A picture of Wilshere, reported to be from when he attended a London nightclub during last week, was uploaded to Instagram, before being removed, but was then subsequently reposted on Twitter last night, sparking much debate across social media as to the player’s behaviour.

Wilshere has been criticised in the past for two high-profile incidents of being pictured with a cigarette, first outside a London nightclub in November 2013 and again last summer when at a pool party while on holiday in Las Vegas with England goalkeeper Joe Hart following the World Cup.

Speaking in July, Wilshere said: “The smoking? Of course I regret it. I have been seen before doing it. I said then I made a mistake and I have made a mistake again. People make mistakes.

“I am young and I will learn from it. I realise the consequences it has and the effect on kids growing up.

“I have kids myself and I don’t want them growing up to think their dad smokes and it is OK for a footballer to smoke, because it’s not. It is unacceptable and I will accept the consequences and I will move on.”

In April 2012, Arsenal’s Morocco forward Marouane Chamakh was pictured holding a shisha pipe just hours after a defeat at QPR.

Last month, the Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, spoke out against footballers smoking following revelations that goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny lit up in the showers after the 2-0 defeat at Southampton on New Year’s Day, since when the Pole has not started a Premier League match.

“Players here are judged on their performances. Ideally, the best way to have [as high a] level of performance as possible is to follow the rules that allow you to perform,” Wenger said. “We know this is not good. Overall, these players are professional.”