Former Arsenal goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano has revealed that he almost played in a Premier League match while intoxicated, after being called up as a late substitute following a night of heavy drinking. The Italian, who spent the 2013-14 season on loan at the Gunners from Palermo, recounted the incident in an interview with La Gazzetta dello Sport.
Viviano, now 40, said he was not initially selected for Arsenal's away match against Everton in April 2014. He went out drinking, consuming half a bottle of vodka, and returned home at dawn. However, a late text message informed him that Lukasz Fabianski had fallen ill, and a car would collect him at 6:30am to join the squad at Goodison Park.
Upon arrival, teammate Santi Cazorla noticed the smell of alcohol and told Viviano he was 'disgusting'. Viviano admitted he nearly had a panic attack, fearing his career would be over if he had to play. He ultimately did not feature in the match, which Arsenal lost 3-0.
Viviano never made a competitive appearance for Arsenal during his loan spell, with Wojciech Szczesny and Fabianski ahead of him in the pecking order. He later moved to Sporting Lisbon and then returned to Italy, retiring after a two-decade career that included six caps for the national team.
