LONDON -- Arsene Wenger says that Jack Wilshere is "not a smoker" following the latest incident involving the Arsenal midfielder.
Wilshere, 23, was seen holding a shisha pipe at a nightclub in pictures posted on social media, with the Press Association reporting that the Premier League club takes a dim view on any players smoking.
Speaking at his pregame news conference on Friday morning, Wenger responded to Instagram photos by saying: "I have spoken to him about that, He is not a smoker. He is sorry for what happened. It is down to him to master his life. He has the day off, he went out to watch the Superbowl.
"When he is here, he has to follow the rules, but when he is out of his job, it's his own decision how to behave. You are worried that your players get [a reputation] what they don't deserve."
Wenger said Wilshere always behaved in a professional way at the club, adding: "I observe him well and he behaves in a very professional way, I must say. Every morning, he is one of the first in and every afternoon one of the last out at the end. He works hard.
"He has gone through bad spells in his career and always recovered. It would be wrong to give him a reputation because he is a very serious player and he works very hard.
"We have all been 20 and sometimes you have to relieve the pressure, but it is much more difficult these day. Everywhere you go people talk photos. One photo does not define who you are. You have to take that with a distance.
"When I was in Brazil, I was in photos with people I didn't even know around me, so you have to be very careful about that. I don't think Jack is a smoker, there is nothing more to add to that. He is two weeks ahead of schedule in his training. You don't do that if you are not serious. I am not worried about him at all."
Wilshere has been criticised in the past for two high-profile incidents of being pictured with a cigarette, first outside a London nightclub in October 2013 and again last summer when at a pool party while on holiday in Las Vegas with England goalkeeper Joe Hart following the World Cup.
Speaking last July, Wilshere said: "The smoking? Of course I regret it. I have been seen before doing it. I said then I made a mistake and I have made a mistake again. People make mistakes."
ESPN FC correspondent Kevin Palmer contributed to this report.