Football: Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette in hot water after 'doing balloons'

Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette.
Arsenal striker Alexandre Lacazette. Photo credit: Reuters

English Premier League side Arsenal are taking a report striker Alexandre Lacazette inhaled nitrous oxide from a balloon "seriously".

Footage released by UK tabloid the Daily Star shows Frenchman Lacazette appearing to inhale from a balloon positioned at his mouth during the lockdown.

The 28-year-old is also quoted in a text message to friends saying he is "at home, chilling and doing balloons". 

Nitrous oxide is a colourless gas that is commonly used for sedation and pain relief, but is also used by people to feel intoxicated or high.

An Arsenal spokesman says: "This is a private matter, which we are taking seriously. It will be handled internally."

Lacazette has previously been warned about a similar offence of inhaling the substance, also known as 'laughing gas', back in 2018. 

During that Incident, Lacazette, and teammates Mesut Ozil, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Matteo Guendouzi were "reminded of their responsibilities", when vision emerged of them inhaling notorious oxide in a London club. 

This is the second time in three months Lacazette has been in trouble at Arsenal, after he was one of four players to break social distancing guidelines during the coronavirus lockdown. 

Lacazette had scored nine goals in 26 games this season, when football was suspended, due to the coronavirus pandemic. 

Arsenal players have been training individually over the past three weeks and plan to resume in small groups this week, pending approval from the Premier League.