Jack Wilshere could find himself at the centre of another smoking row after pictures emerged of the England international holding a shisha pipe at a nightclub.

Wilshere, 23, is recovering from ankle surgery after an injury in the defeat by Manchester United on 22 November and is expected to be in contention for a first-team return by the end of the month.

A picture of Wilshere, reported to be from when he attended a London nightclub during last week, was uploaded to Instagram, before being removed, but was then subsequently reposted on Twitter, sparking much debate across social media as to the player’s behaviour.

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 the England goalkeeper Joe Hart following the World Cup.

Speaking in 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.

“I am young and I will learn from it. I realise the consequences it has and the effect on kids growing up.

“I have kids myself and I don’t want them growing up to think their dad smokes and it is OK for a footballer to smoke, because it’s not. It is unacceptable and I will accept the consequences and I will move on.”

Marouane Chamakh, the Morocco striker now at Crystal Palace, was pictured holding a shisha pipe just hours after an defeat at QPR in April 2012.

Last month, Arsène Wenger spoke out against footballers smoking following revelations that Wojciech Szczesny lit up in the showers after the 2-0 defeat at Southampton on New Year’s Day, since when the Poland goalkeeper has not started a Premier League match.

“Players here are judged on their performances. Ideally, the best way to have a high level of performance as possible is to follow the rules that allow you to perform,” Wenger said. “Human beings are human beings, with their strengths and weaknesses. We know this is not good. Overall, these players are professional.

“Wilshere was on holiday [when he was caught smoking]. You cannot control the players on holiday.”

Arsenal were unavailable for immediate comment when contacted on Wednesday evening.