Following a leaked CCTV footage which showed Arsenal stars, strikers Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Alexandre Lacazette, as well as midfielders Mesut Ozil and Matteo Guendouzi, inhaling a substance during a private party in London, the club’s chiefs have revealed the action to be taken on the erring players to avoid a future occurrence of similar incidents.

According to the Premier League club, the players will be “spoken to” by club chiefs after images emerged allegedly showing the four members of the first team inhaling nitrous oxide. CCTV footage obtained by the Sun shows Lacazette, Guendouzi, Ozil and Aubameyang all inhaling from balloons allegedly containing the substance. The players were at a private party at a London club back in August. Nitrous oxide is also known as laughing gas or ‘hippy crack’. An Arsenal spokesperson told the BBC players would be “spoken to and reminded of their responsibilities”.

Nitrous oxide slows down the brain and the body’s responses, giving users a feeling of euphoria and can cause hallucinations, but can also lead to headaches, dizziness and paranoia. However, large doses can starve the body and brain of oxygen, according to government drug advice service Frank. While it is not illegal to possess the drug, it is illegal to give away or sell.

Among the four players caught in the act, Aubameyang is the only one who has featured consistently in the starting line-up of coach Unai Emery, with Lacazette and Guendouzi making their impact off the bench in recent matches. Ozil on his part has been overlooked for selection and was not even in the matchday squad for the crunch games against Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United in the last week.

Do you feel the action by Arsenal is enough or the players should be given a heavier punishment?