"I know I made a mistake," Pennant told the London Evening Standard newspaper. "I have apologised to the three main people who look after my football, who are David Platt, (England Under-21 coach) David Dein (Arsenal vice-chairman) and my boss Mr Arsene Wenger.

"I have called them to apologise and I said sorry and it won't happen again. You do learn from your mistakes and now I'm going to put my head down and work hard in training and get my attitude right and get back into the squad."

There have been a lot of calls from a number of Arsenal fans asking for Pennant to be given a decent run in the team. Whilst his talent has never been in question, his professionalism and attitude was always questioned by certain quarters of the media. Pennant has been rumoured to enjoy clubbing and showing off his latest sports car or expensive watch to his mates down at the pub than working hard to gain a place in the first team.

Kolo Toure is an excellent example of how sheer hard work and dedication to your work can get you into the first team, and quashes claims that Arsene doesn't play youth players. Pennant has talent in abundance, but as Arsene said, "Talent only gets you so far. After 20 or 21 years of age, it is a matter of how much you want it."

Ashburrn adds...

We have since learned that Jermaine lost his mother Debbie to cancer recently. So perhaps recent events are specific to particularly hard times rather than the continuation of a trend.

Our condolences to Jermaine and his family, and we wish him the best of luck getting into the Arsenal first team!