Ashley Smith, 30, pleads guilty to attempting to steal watches from football players

This article is more than 11 months old

This article is more than 11 months old

A man has admitted trying to rob two Arsenal footballers.

Ashley Smith, 30, of Archway, north London, pleaded guilty to attempting to steal watches from Mesut Özil and Sead Kolašinac in Hampstead, north-west London.

Smith appeared at Snaresbrook crown court by video link on Thursday morning to admit trying to ambush the World Cup winner Özil, 30, and the full-back Kolašinac, 26, in Platts Lane on 25 July.

Footage on social media showed the Bosnian defender Kolašinac, nicknamed the Tank, chasing off two moped attackers wearing helmets and dark clothing.

The club’s £350,000-a-week Germany midfielder Özil can be seen in his black Mercedes G-Class SUV before he reportedly took refuge in a Turkish restaurant.

Smith was remanded in custody to be sentenced at the same court on 1 November by Judge Sheelagh Canavan.

Jordan Northover, 26, has also been charged over the incident and is expected to appear before magistrates on Friday.