Sunday 11 November 2018 17:29, UK
Jermaine Pennant recalled on Goals on Sunday how he was out partying until 6am before scoring a hat-trick on his Arsenal debut.
Listen to the Goals on Sunday podcast
Pennant was not expecting to play in the match in May 2003, so decided to go out the night before.
However, the next day he was included in the starting line-up, much to his surprise and shock, and then scored a hat-trick as Arsenal won 6-1 against Southampton.
Explaining the incident, Pennant said: "I thought I'd be on the bench, maybe come on for five minutes…so I went out the night before. I was advised not to by friends, they tried to lock me in but I climbed out the window and got in their cab.
"I said 'I'll be home by 12, if I stay at home I'll be up until 1 anyway'. So we went out, had one drink, ended up having a lot more and got in at 6am a bit worse for wear.
"We were meeting at 11.30am for our team-talk and pre-match meal. Arsene [Wenger] gives out his team sheet and I'm still thinking it will be alright, I'll be on the bench, then I see my name, I had to double check - I thought it said [Ray] Parlour but it said Pennant. All of a sudden I feel sick.
"I was thinking 'what I am going to do?'. I was thinking maybe fake an injury after 20 minutes, I was downing water, anything I thought would help.
"I was just thinking don't do anything stupid, don't give the ball away, just give it to Thierry [Henry]! I just couldn't believe it. I've still got the matchball signed by all the boys."
Pennant also told an amusing story about former Arsenal team-mate Igors Stepanovs which you can watch in the video at the top of the page.
