Jack Wilshere needs to cut out smoking and drinking to reach his best - Noel Gallagher

 

The Evening Standard's journalism is supported by our readers. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Not out of puff: Wilshere has played well in spite of lifestyle issues
LJUBLJANA, SLOVENIA - JUNE 14: Jack Wilshere of England celebrates scoring their second goal during the UEFA EURO 2016 Qualifier between Slovenia and England on at the Stozice Arena on June 14, 2015 in Ljubljana, Slovenia. (Photo by Stu Forster/Getty Imag
James Benge30 July 2015

Noel Gallagher has warned Arsenal star Jack Wilshere he needs to cut out the smoking and drinking to reach his potential.

The former Oasis man was highly critical of a player who has twice been photographed with a cigarette in his mouth, and suggested that any sportsman who engages in such actions is not a sportsman.

Gallagher told Talksport: “You think of the great midfielders in the game now, like [David] Silva and the Barcelona players – they’re athletes. They don’t smoke and drink.”

“This lad has been caught twice. That’s what sets him apart and what links him to Gazza. That catches up with you in the end. If you are smoking and drinking you are not an athlete.

“The great players in the league dedicate themselves to be the best, and smoking and drinking isn’t going to cut it."

Both Arsene Wenger and England manager Roy Hodgson have declared themselves unconcerned with Wilshere’s private life. In February the Frenchman rejected suggestions that the midfielder’s lifestyle was a problem.

“He’s not a smoker,” Wenger said. “He is of course sorry for what has happened. It’s down to him to master his life.”

Create a FREE account to continue reading

eros

Registration is a free and easy way to support our journalism.

Join our community where you can: comment on stories; sign up to newsletters; enter competitions and access content on our app.

Your email address

Must be at least 6 characters, include an upper and lower case character and a number

You must be at least 18 years old to create an account

* Required fields

Already have an account? SIGN IN

By clicking Sign up you confirm that your data has been entered correctly and you have read and agree to our Terms of use , Cookie policy and Privacy notice .

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged in