November 21st 2024.
Arsene Wenger, the former manager of Arsenal, recently received a heartfelt apology from one of his former players, Jermaine Pennant. As Pennant explained on a talk show, he was feeling remorseful for his behavior during his full Premier League debut for Arsenal against Southampton back in May 2003. At the time, Pennant was a young, up-and-coming player who had heavily indulged in alcohol the night before the match.
The night before his big debut, Pennant had attended a party hosted by FHM, a popular men's lifestyle magazine. He admits to drinking excessively, including tequila shots, and getting barely any sleep before the game. Despite his unprofessional behavior, Pennant was still named in the starting line-up for the match. He recalls feeling shocked and sick when he saw his name on the list, as he had assumed he would be on the bench and able to recover from his hangover.
During the match, Pennant scored a hat-trick, much to the surprise of himself and his teammates. He admits to even considering ways to get himself substituted off the field, as he was not in a fit state to play a full 90 minutes. But as he continued to score, he realized he would have to stay on the field and face the consequences of his actions.
Pennant acknowledges that his behavior was immature and not professional, especially towards his coach Arsene Wenger. He tried to hide the smell of alcohol on his breath and even plotted to get himself substituted early in the game. Looking back, Pennant admits that he was young and foolish, and would not advise anyone to behave in such a manner.
Despite his successful debut, Pennant's time at Arsenal was short-lived. He only made 26 appearances over a six-year period before being sold to Birmingham City. However, he remains grateful for the opportunity to have played for such a prestigious club and has learned from his mistakes. He hopes that his apology to Wenger will bring closure to the incident and serve as a lesson for others.
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