Former Arsenal and Sporting CP goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano has made a shocking confession about nearly derailing his football career by turning up to a Premier League match while intoxicated. The Italian shot-stopper, who was on loan from Palermo during the 2013/14 season, served as Arsene Wenger's third-choice goalkeeper but never made an official appearance for the Gunners.
A Night of Vodka and a Morning Panic
Viviano's career could have taken a disastrous turn had first-choice keeper Wojciech Szczesny been injured during a Premier League clash against Everton at Goodison Park. In a candid interview with Italian publication La Gazzetta dello Sport back in February, Viviano recounted the harrowing experience. He explained that after a night of partying, he received a text message at 2am informing him that backup goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski was ill and a car would collect him at 6.30am for the match.
"I had drunk half a bottle of vodka," Viviano admitted. "I went to my friend who owned the nightclub and showed him the message. He asked, 'What now?' I replied, 'Now bring me more vodka.'"
The Dressing Room Confrontation
After hastily showering and traveling to Liverpool, Viviano arrived at the dressing room where he was immediately confronted by teammate Santi Cazorla. "You smell of alcohol, it's disgusting," Cazorla told him, according to Viviano's account.
The goalkeeper described this moment as the only time in his life he almost suffered a panic attack. "I couldn't see anything and kept repeating to myself, 'If I have to play, my career is over,'" he revealed.
A Narrow Escape
Fortunately for Viviano, Szczesny completed the full 90 minutes without issue, sparing the Italian from what could have been a career-ending embarrassment. Arsenal, however, suffered a 3-0 defeat at Goodison Park in that match.
While Viviano never made a competitive appearance for Arsenal's first team, he did feature in an under-21s match where he conceded five goals, according to transfer records. His time at the Emirates Stadium concluded at the end of the 2013/14 season when he returned to Palermo.
Post-Arsenal Career Trajectory
Following his Arsenal stint, Viviano enjoyed a respectable career that included:
- Over 100 appearances for Sampdoria in Serie A
- A loan move to Sporting CP in 2019 (though he never played for the Portuguese side)
- Spells with SPAL, Fatih Karagumruk in Turkey, and Ascoli
- Ten appearances for the Italian national team
Viviano joins a select group of players who have represented both Sporting CP and Arsenal, including Viktor Gyokeres, Hector Bellerin, Joel Campbell, and Cedric Soares. The connection between these two clubs continues with their upcoming Champions League quarter-final clash, adding another chapter to their shared history.
The goalkeeper's candid revelation serves as a stark reminder of how quickly professional careers can unravel through poor decisions, even for athletes at the highest level of the sport.
