JERMAINE PENNANT has lifted the lid on his full Arsenal debut by revealing he was out partying until 6am on the day of the clash.
The ex-Liverpool star featured as a late substitute during a 3-2 defeat to Leeds in the 2002/03 season and believed he would not play again for the rest of the campaign.
Former Arsenal ace Jermaine Pennant has revealed he was hungover on the day he faced Southampton
Pennant has claimed he could feel the vodka bouncing in his stomach during the Highbury clashPA:Empics Sport
However, to his surprise, Arsene Wenger chucked the then 19-year-old into the starting XI, where he rewarded the Frenchman’s faith by banging in a hat-trick in a 6-1 win over Southampton.
But Pennant revealed he could still feel the vodka in his stomach during the clash which was the penultimate game of that season.
Speaking to Four Four Two, Pennant said: “I’d been out the night before and had a big night, because I really didn’t think I would be playing, never mind starting the game.
“I’d never started a game for Arsenal and I didn’t think that’d change, especially as Robert Pires, Freddie Ljungberg and Ray Parlour were all in the squad. I was guaranteed to be on the bench.
Pennant netted a hat-trick against the Saints on his full league debut for the GunnersNews Group Newspapers Ltd
Arsenal eased to a 6-1 win against Southampton in the 2002/03 season
“I thought, ‘Sod it’, went to an FHM party and got home at around 6am. I couldn’t believe it when I saw my name in the starting line-up!
“I was still so hungover when I was playing; I just did everything in my power not to embarrass myself.
“I can’t believe I scored. It was just a huge relief – I thought, ‘OK, you can take me off now. Please, Arsene!’
“I felt so sick and I could feel the vodka still bouncing around in my stomach. You could smell it on my breath, too.
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“I did OK to score a hat-trick: it shows I had talent, though it helps when you’re playing with Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira. That was the first game of Arsenal’s 49-game unbeaten run.”
Despite his starring display against the Saints, Pennant failed to make the grade at Arsenal.
He was shipped off on a season-long loan to Leeds for the entirety of the 2003/04 campaign that the Gunners went unbeaten, before joining Birmingham in 2005 following a loan spell.