Arsene Wenger insists he is not going soft on discipline after accepting Mesut Ozil’s explanation for going to a Berlin nightclub on the same day as Arsenal’s victory at Newcastle.
Ozil was given dispensation to fly to Germany early after missing the win at St James’ Park almost two weeks ago with a minor illness but German newspaper Bild reported he went out later that night prior to joining up with his international team-mates.
“He went out for half an hour to a birthday of his friend to wish him well and then went home,” said Wenger, who fined Wojciech Szczesny for smoking earlier in the season.
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“I’m not going soft on discipline. I’ve fined people when they work for us and don’t respect the discipline. On that front I don’t think you can stop anybody from wishing happy birthday to a friend when he is in his own country.”
