Wenger will fine Iwobi if there's confirmation of partying before FA Cup exit

Arsene Wenger turned on his players after Arsenal exited the FA Cup, but one footballer could be in bigger trouble.

On Tuesday, Wenger said that Arsenal will fine Alex Iwobi if it is confirmed that the Nigerian midfielder was partying two nights before the Gunners' embarrassing defeat at Nottingham Forest in the third round of the FA Cup. As written by the Guardian's Nick Ames, a video purports to show the product of the Gunners at a party in Soho, dancing at 2:37 AM. According to neighbours, there may have been drugs and the ingestion of laughing gas at the gathering, although there's no reason to suggest that the footballer was involved.

"If that is true, he will be fined," Wenger declared. "It is impossible to go out 48 hours before a game. It's unacceptable. I will have to of course see him to see if that is right or not.

"It was not the night before the game, it was 48 hours before the game. The night before the game we were in a hotel. But it is not acceptable and I will have to speak to him about that. First of all, you have to be cautious with the news coming out, when you read what is reported it is like he has taken drugs. He is not involved in that at all, he has been out at a birthday party. How long has he stayed? That is important. After, I will decide what happens."

Iwobi was among the footballers who were abysmal as Arsenal suffered a 4-2 defeat at Forest. The result marked the first time since 1996 - the year that the Gunners appointed Wenger as manager - that the club from north London was eliminated in the third round of the FA Cup.