Former Arsenal star Perry Groves defends players over hippy crack storm – Id rather that than a 15-pint bender

Former Arsenal star Perry Groves defends players over hippy crack storm – Id rather that than a 15-pint bender
Former Arsenal star Perry Groves has defended the Gunners players involved in the latest hippy crack scandal to hit the front pages.A story published in The Sun on Friday shows a number of first-team aces, including Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mesut Ozil, Alexandre Lacazette and Matteo Guendouzi, apparently inhalingnitrous oxide from balloons in a London club.It is claimed the images date back to August, before the start of the new Premier League season.4Its not the first time footballers have been captured taking the substance known as laughing gas or hippy crack.Manchester City and England forward Raheem Sterling was criticised after he was pictured using the substance in 2015, while Jack Grealish was caught up in a laughing gas storm in 2016 and Kyle Walker apologised after he was pictured taking it in 2013.The exposcomes amid Arsenals brilliant run of 20 games unbeaten in all competitions, and is sure to spark outrage.But former Arsenal winger Groves doesnt think its a big deal, telling talkSPORT the incident seems quite innocent compared to the 15-pint binges players used to go on during his playing days.Id rather they take a little bit of gas out of a balloon than having 15 pint benders like we used to, he said on Thursday nights Sports Bar.4

Groves won two First Division titles and the League Cup in seven years with Arsenal

Also, this is isnt in public, this is a private room theyve hired, so their privacy has been breached if someone from that establishment sold the CCTV footage.The thing that amazes me is that apparently Ozil was involved. You can understand it some of the youngster players were involved, but the older ones?But, then again, when we were 29 and 30 we were with the youngster players and our Tuesday Club galvanised team spirit there was no hierarchy, there were no cliques. It wasnt the older players going out and the young players going out separately, we tried to bring them into the fold.Its no surprise its come out now because Arsenal has gone 20 games unbeaten and everything is going great.But it doesnt outrage me at all to be fair. To me it seems like its quite innocent.4

The story will not have gone down well with manager Unai Emery

The news is unlikely to sit well with manager Unai Emery, but Groves has urged the manager to use the situation to his advantage.Emerys strict managerial style has rejuvenated Arsenal this season following a number of disappointing campaigns under Arsene Wenger.The Spaniard is said to have gone to a number of lengths to ensure his players are in the best shape this season, including banning fruit juices as they contain too much sugar.News that his players went on a legal high binge before the start of the season is not likely to go down well with the boss, but Groves insists the incident can help galvanise the team.4

Aubameyang – the Premier League’s top goalscorers – was among the Arsenal players pictured taking the substance

The two-time First Division title winner added: Unai Emery would have been aware of this before it was printed, will read them the riot act and say theyre tainted the clubs image, what are you doing etc, and he might say hes particularly disappointed with the senior players.He might even fine them a couple of weeks wages, but if I was him I wouldnt because I think this can galvanise you even more.He can bring everyone together and say, this is us against the world here, theyre out to get us and they close ranks.Listen back to Perry Groves on The Sports Bar IN FULL above

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