Report: Arsenal Fines Wojciech Szczesny $30K For Smoking In Showers

Wojciech Szczesny’s bad start to 2015 stretched from the field to the showers to his wallet.

Szczesny, Arsenal’s first-choice goalkeeper, was caught smoking in the dressing-room showers Thursday at Southampton’s St. Mary’s Stadium following the Gunners’ 2-0 loss to the Saints. Szczesny’s puffs angered manager Arsene Wenger, and Arsenal fined the Polish shot-stopper £20,000 ($30,400) for the infraction, according to the Mirror.

We don’t know what Szczesny was thinking when he lit up in the showers. Szczesny already was facing intense criticism — from Wenger and others — after his errors led to both Southampton goals. The 24-year-old then made an even worse decision after the game by lighting up in a no-smoking zone.

David Ospina played in Arsenal’s FA Cup win over Hull City on Sunday, although the Colombian would have featured if Szczesny hadn’t landed in hot, smoky water. Wenger has used his backup goalkeeper in domestic cup competition in recent seasons.

A Danish television station claimed Szczesny was involved in a dressing-room altercation and would never play for Arsenal again, but the Gunners denied those claims when contacted by the Mirror.

Wenger previously has punished former defender William Gallas and midfielder Jack Wilshere for smoking. Szczesny now joins the ranks of the smoking Gunners.