Arsenal hit by ‘hippy crack’ allegations

A string of senior Arsenal players were last night embroiled in a “hippy crack” controversyy after it was reported they had inhaled nitrous oxide at a pre-season party.

Alexandre Lacazette, Mesut Ozil, Matteo Guendouzi and Pierre-emerick Aubameyang were all pictured at the event, at which so-called “hippy crack” was reportedly inhaled from balloons.

The Sun reported that the party took place in London in August, before the start of the Premier League season. The newspaper claimed last night that boxes of laughing gas canisters were brought to the players in a private area of a West End nightclub.

Nitrous oxide has become increasingly popular with partygoers but doctors have warned of possible health risks. It can cause feelings of euphoria, hallucinations and fits of giggles and laughter.

Medical risks including passing out if too much nitrous oxide is taken, while drug information website Talk to Frank says that peoplehave been died as a result of suffocating from a lack of oxygen.

It was reported that footage showed Ozil, Aubameyang, Guendouzi and Lacazette all inhaling the gas. The Arsenal players, if the claims are true, would not be the first to be seen using the gas. Raheem Sterling was spotted inhaling “hippy crack” ahead of his £49 million move from Liverpool to Manchester City in 2015 and Kyle Walker apologised in 2013 after he was pictured taking nitrous oxide.

Jack Grealish, the Aston Villa midfielder, was also embroiled in a storm over the gas in 2016. Arsenal were last night unavailable for comment on The Sun’s claims.