Per Mertesacker has been revealed as
Arsene Wenger's debt collector in chief at
Arsenal after a breach of training ground
security that infuriated the Gunners
manager. - Blog: Arsenal: A team of one half
- Delaney: Gunners caught cold Wenger was said to be "very
disappointed" after a fan revealed some of
the inner secrets of his regime after a visit
to Arsenal's Hertfordshire training base. According to reports in several
newspapers, defender Mertesacker has
been appointed by Wenger to collect fines
imposed on first team squad members for
any breaches of discipline. Top flight clubs have long been protective
of the secrets of their training bases, but
details of the fines at Arsenal have given
an insight into the club's disciplinary
measures. The fines, revealed in a photograph of a list
published online, include: Non-attendance of unused players at home
matches without permission of manager -
£1,000. Being late for training - £250 (15 minutes),
£500 (30 minutes). Being late for matchday meetings/meals -
£250. Wearing inappropriate clothing outside the
dressing room - £100. Newspapers in dressing room - £100. Non-production of urine sample for two
consecutive weeks - £200 Phone calls in the building (texting
allowed) - £500. An Arsenal spokesman said: "The pictures
are genuine. We understand that they
were taken by a friend of a member of
staff during a private visit to the training
ground. "The manager was made aware of the
pictures being published, and we are very
disappointed. We will review our
procedures."