Arsene Wenger dismisses Paul Merson’s doping claims

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has shot back claims by former midfielder Paul Merson that he had been injected by a 'yellowy product' during his time at the club.

Merson, 43, made the claims to French football magazine So Foot and further described being handed "a dark tablet", which was apparently super-strength caffeine.

The former England international and current 'wacky' Sky Sports punit, who made 423 appearences at the North London club, is currently promoting his latest auto-biography, entitled How Not To Be A Professional Footballer.

The claims evoked a strong response from Arsene Wenger ahead of this weekend's tie against Aston Villa:

"Paul Merson stayed with me for four months, so I think it is better you ask people who have played for five, six, seven, eight, nine years here how we behave medically," said the Gunners boss.

"I personally give them nothing. If they don't want to take anything, they take nothing. If you find one player who I asked to take something, bring him here in front of me. If we give them something, it is multi-vitamins, magnesium, calcium or vitamin C like everybody else.

"Every year we have at least 20 doping controls. In 15 years we have not had one positive control. You think, really, I try to dope?

The Frenchman added that if the media found one player who had been asked to take an injection, he would "resign tomorrow morning".

"It is absolutely ridiculous to put any suspicion on the way we treat the players and respect the players' health," added Wenger.