The life of a footballer and a rockstar used to be much more closely intertwined in the past than it is nowadays, but that isn’t to say there aren’t examples in more recent decades of players turning to alcohol. One such case came to light through Santi Cazorla’s interaction with a teammate during the 2013/14 Premier League season.
At that time, Arsenal were one of the teams to watch. Technically gifted in all areas of their play under Arsene Wenger and easy on the eye, they often used one or two-touch passing to slice through their opponents’ press like a hot knife through butter. Cazorla, Jack Wilshere, and Mesut Ozil formed the crux of that side.
A certain Mikel Arteta was also at the club, acting as vice-captain. But while everything seemed rosy for those looking in at the FA Cup winners from that term, there was one fringe player who could have been destructive had he exerted more influence on the side than he did, although his circumstances came with a massive hint of bad luck.
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Emiliano Viviano Once Turned Up To Arsenal Match Smelling of Alcohol
Viviano has revealed how Cazorla called him “disgusting” and he “almost had a panic attack” after he once turned up to an Arsenal match reeking of booze. The former Italy international spent a year with the Gunners, joining them on a 12-month loan deal from Palermo in the summer of 2013.
In a wide-ranging interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport, he recalled a low point during Arsenal’s 3-0 defeat to Everton late in the 2013/14 season. Lukasz Fabianski’s last-minute withdrawal due to illness meant Viviano was called up as a late addition at Goodison Park – and his preparation was far from ideal. “Okay, so I’m not called up for Everton versus Arsenal, and I’m having a night out,” the Italian recalled.
“At around 2AM, I go out for a cigarette and read a text message: ‘Fabianski has been ill, a car will pick you up at six thirty.’ I had drunk half a bottle of vodka and I go over to my friend who owns the nightclub and have him read the message. He looks at me: ‘What now?”… ‘Now bring me more vodka’.
“I’m home at dawn, have a shower, and when I get to Liverpool, in the dressing room, the great Santi Cazorla says to me: ‘You smell of alcohol, you’re disgusting.’ It was the only time in my life I almost had a panic attack, I couldn’t see, and I kept telling myself: ‘If I have to come on, my career is over’.”
Emiliano Viviano’s Fleeting Arsenal Career
Viviano would have no doubt wanted to make more of his time in the Premier League upon reflection. However, fierce competition from both Wojciech Szczesny and the aforementioned Fabianski meant Viviano never played a single minute of action for the Gunners, before finding success back in Italy with Fiorentina.
Even worse is that, while Arsenal lifted their 11th FA Cup at the end of that season, Viviano’s absence meant he was ineligible for a winner’s medal as Wenger’s men celebrated their triumph at Wembley Stadium.
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