Wilshere caught up in street brawl

Jack Wilshere was caught up in a street brawl in the early hours of Sunday morning and now faces another dressing down from Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger.

Police have confirmed they are investigating scenes of disorder outside London West End nightspot Cafe de Paris at 2.15am.

Wilshere, who has only just returned to training after suffering a broken leg last August, denies any allegations of assault.

But Arsenal officials are understood to be less than impressed by Wilshere’s behaviour and Wenger will discuss the matter with the 24-year-old midfielder at the club’s London Colney training headquarters on Monday morning.

Wilshere, who is hoping to prove his fitness in time to make the England squad for Euro 2016 this summer, has been involved in a number of incidents throughout his career.

He was arrested outside a nightclub in 2010 and has been caught smoking cigarettes and holding a shisha pipe in recent years.

And now, Wilshere’s long-awaited return to training has been clouded by controversy after police confirmed they are investigating an incident outside a West End nightclub.

One witness to the incident, which began around 2.15am, said an apparently inebriated Wilshere became involved in a spat in front of the entrance to Cafe de Paris, on Coventry Street.

He is said to have stormed off to a nearby Bureau de Change, where he continued to argue with a fellow reveller who was attempting to film on his phone.

There were further scenes of disorder in a narrow alleyway nearby as a handful of police officers arrived to split up the rowdy group.

Wilshere is said to have tried to cover his face with his jacket as he grew concerned members of the public were attempting to film him.

Wilshere denies any allegations of assault, with sources close to the player insisting the 24-year-old didn’t throw any punches.

The player declined to comment on Sunday night.

The England star was on a night out with his girlfriend and a group of friends when the flashpoint occurred.

Wilshere had been given Sunday off by manager Arsene Wenger and he took the opportunity to let his hair down after a gruelling eight-month rehabilitation programme. But now he is counting the cost of another PR disaster.

A Metropolitan Police statement read: “At 02:15hrs on Sunday, 3 April, police patrolling Coventry Street, W1, became aware of two groups of males involved in an altercation.

“Officers intervened and one man claimed he was assaulted. He did not require hospital treatment. There have been no arrests. Enquiries continue.”

Arsenal insisted the incident was a private matter and would be dealt with internally this week.

But club officials were understood to be less than impressed by Wilshere’s antics, particularly as he had only just returned to fitness.

Wenger is also likely to be disappointed with the latest controversy involving his talented midfielder. The Arsenal manager has been forced to publicly defend Wilshere on more than one occasion after his off-the-field scrapes.

The Gunners boss is set to discuss the latest incident with Wilshere at the club’s London Colney HQ on Monday.

News of Sunday’s altercation will also interest England manager Roy Hodgson, who has held regular discussions with Wenger over Wilshere’s rehabilitation.

The midfielder has been pencilled in for a playing return this Friday when Arsenal Under 21s face Newcastle at the Emirates Stadium.

If everything goes according to plan, Wilshere will be ready to make a first-team return before the end of the month. His pending return has provided Hodgson with a huge boost ahead of the European Championship, which starts in June.

Despite his lack of action, Wilshere, if fit, is likely to play a key role in France, with Hodgson having earmarked him for a deep-lying central midfield role at the Euros.

Report by Daily Mail