In a startling interview with Danish publication Cover Man, Nicklas Bendtner claims that his drink has been deliberately spiked with drugs on a night out with friends.

The striker, who is set to return to the Emirates after a season on loan at Sunderland, claims that not only has he cut down on his extra-curricular activities as a consequence, but that when he does indulge in the odd moonshine session he never puts his glass down where it can be tampered with.

Name checking an incident at Boujis nightclub in South Kensington where he was famously (and literally) caught with his pants down by paparrazi, the 24-year-old stated:

“I was out with a friend and we were doing shots. When I woke up in my bath I was blank. I was told that I’d lain down and had to be retrieved from the water.

“The club had been closed for an hour at the time and then someone obviously called the paparazzi. I was drugged, I think.”

Claiming the similar incidents have also happened in Denmark to his friends, one of which ended with his friend being hospitalised, the striker stressed that he now tries to resist the temptation to go out, recognising his reputation for being a party boy does him no favours.

Bendtner is not expected to play again for Arsenal having made clear his intentions to find another club this summer. While he certainly hasn’t covered himself in glory during his eight years in North London (or during his stint in the North-East), the idea that people have allegedly gone out of their way to target him is certainly scary and a warning to other young members of the squad. If indeed his allegations are true.

Sympathy from Arsenal fans is likely to be short on the ground either way.

Thanks to @Ryo_Cleverfish for the heads up.