Arsenal's Alexandre Lacazette inhales from balloon 18 months after 'hippy crack' warning

Footballer Alexandre Lacazette inhales from a balloon during lockdown – just 18 months after being warned by his club for using “hippy crack”.

The £185,000-a-week Arsenal forward filmed himself at home with the balloon in his mouth.

In the clip, rap music blares in the background as he slowly ­inhales. He then relaxes back on a sofa as his eyes start to close.

Alongside the footage, which he sent to pals this week, the 28-year-old boasted in texts he was “at home, chilling and doing balloons”.

Footballer Alexandre Lacazette inhales from a 
balloon during lockdown

The film, seen by the Daily Star Sunday, will ­enrage club bosses.

They have previously warned the France international and several team-mates over the use of nitrous oxide.

In August 2018, a group of players including Lacazette were videoed passing out after inhaling the gas, dubbed “hippy crack”, from balloons at a wild champagne and vodka party.

The footage showed the striker and team-mates Matteo Guendouzi, Mesut Ozil and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang at the heart of the bash.

They were among about a dozen players and 70 girls partying at the Tape nightspot in London – just days before the start of the new Premier League season.

Bosses at Arsenal – nicknamed the Gunners – hauled in the quartet and “reminded them of their responsibilities”.

Nitrous oxide gas is given to dental patients as a painkiller, but abused by revellers craving the euphoria it induces when inhaled.

It can lead to oxygen deprivation, and has been linked to at least 17 deaths. It is not illegal to possess the gas, but its sale is banned in England and Wales to under-18s if there is a risk they will inhale it.

England winger Raheem Sterling was spotted sucking from a balloon before his £49million move from Liverpool to Manchester City in 2015.

Aston Villa’s Jack Grealish outraged guests at a Birmingham hotel with an early-hours party in which nitrous ­oxide was inhaled in 2016.

And in 2013, England defender Kyle Walker apologised after being pictured inhaling gas on a night out in Sheffield.

Arsenal have declined to comment. Lacazette was yet to respond.

What is Nitrous Oxide - and what are the effects?

Nitrous Oxide has been branded ‘laughing gas’ due to the euphoric feeling people who inhale it can sometimes feel.

The gas is normally bought in pressured canisters, commonly transferred to a container, for instance a balloon, from which it is inhaled.

Nitrous oxide is not illegal to possess - but this doesn’t mean that it is safe to use.

The effects of nitrous oxide vary on how much has been inhaled.

These include:

• Feelings of euphoria, relaxation and calmness.

• Dizziness, difficulty in thinking straight and laughter.

• Sound distortions or even hallucinations.

• In some people, a headache can be an immediate effect.

The risks include:

• Unconsciousness or death from lack of oxygen. This occurs when the available oxygen for breathing is effectively pushed out by the nitrous oxide.