'I scored a hat-trick while hungover on my Arsenal league debut

Former Arsenal star Jermaine Pennant has apologised to old boss Arsene Wenger after reflecting back on being hungover during his Premier League debut for the Gunners.

Pennant has discussed his infamous bow against Southampton in 2003 many times before but now the ex-winger has gone into more detail on what happened the night before, revealing he had been invited to a party hosted by magazine FHM.

Now 41, things turned out OK for Pennant as he ended up scoring a hat-trick in a 6-1 win over the Saints at Highbury - and he has now told of how he enjoyed the boozy evening convinced that he was not going to start the game.

He told talkSport: "My name was on the (squad) list. I was told around 11.30 at the hotel. I’ve never started, so I thought nothing would change, worst case scenario… no, best case scenario… I am on the bench and I come on for the last five minutes. The boys were telling me not to do it and that I was going to start.

"I was saying, 'absolutely not' – I’m not going to start in front of these other guys. There wasn’t a chance. I go to the party and it is bouncing. I said I’ll have one cheeky one. Next thing you know, it’s 4am. Shots are out. Tequilas. Sambucas. So I get in at 6.30am. I’ve got to report in at 11am. I’ve had three hours sleep.

"I go there and I’m like, ‘Oh my god, what have I done’ – Arsene (Wenger) is trying to talk to me. I’m looking the other way so he can’t smell the vodka. I was 21. You know what I mean? I wouldn’t advise it now!"

Pennant - who only went on to make 26 appearances for the Gunners before featuring for the likes of Liverpool and Stoke City - said he "felt sick" when Wenger named him in the starting XI before surprising himself by netting a treble.

"I thought he said Parlour!" He went on. "Patrick Vieira is telling me, 'this is your time' – and I’m like, no Pat, it’s not, leave me out! I’m thinking, 'what can I do to get subbed off? I’m in no fit state to play 90 minutes'. Then I scored.

"Then I thought I’d wait till half-time. Then I scored again. Then I got the hat-trick. Then I thought, ‘I’m staying on!’ – sorry Arsene. It wasn’t very professional."

Pennant's career with filled with controversies - being given a drink-driving conviction and serving 30 days in prison before being forced to wear an electronic tag while playing for Birmingham City.

He was also known for his high-profile romances and later was declared bankrupt at the start of 2023 following retiring from football - but later bounced back with a set of punditry gigs.

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