Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has admitted he made a mistake by smoking a cigarette but has insisted he will never be drawn in to it again in future.
The 21-year-old was photographed smoking outside a London nightclub in the early hours of Thursday morning as players wound down following Arsenal's 2-0 win over Napoli, with Gunners boss Arsene Wenger later criticising the England international.
Despite the incident Wilshere was recalled to Wenger's starting line-up for Sunday's 1-1 draw at West Brom, scoring the equalising goal which took Arsenal back to the top of the Barclays Premier League table.
Wilshere's 63rd-minute strike was his first league goal in almost three years and he feels he vindicated Wenger's faith in his ability after a week in which he was asked to explain his actions to the Frenchman.
"Players make mistakes," he told Arsenal Player.
"I am not a smoker. I spoke with the boss and he asked me what happened, I explained to him and we sorted it out.
"He put me in the team and hopefully I repaid him. I am not a smoker so I think that will be my last (cigarette)."
Wenger had said ahead of the weekend's meeting at the Hawthorns that he "disagreed completely" with Wilshere's behaviour but was pleased with how the player answered his critics.
"He is an honest guy and when he is wrong he knows it," Wenger said of his midfielder.
"I think today the players don't get away with anything. We got away with it a bit more but they know that's the rules of the modern game.
Source: PA
