Arsenal striker Olivier Giroud has issued a grovelling public apology after he was caught out inviting a model to his hotel room hours before a Premier League match.
Giroud, 27, took Celia Kay back to his room at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel in Canary Wharf on February 2 just hours before appearing against Crystal Palace.
Miss Kay, who has been photographed for FHM and Maxim, told a Sunday newspaper that she and Giroud were 'loving and tactile', but did not have sex during the two-hour rendez-vous, which ended just after 3am.
The striker today said he will have to 'fight for my family and for my club and obtain their forgiveness.' The footballer had previously denied spending time with the model, and convinced Arsenal to write legal letters denying that the meeting took place.
But after pictures by Miss Kay emerged of Giroud walking around his hotel room in just his underwear, he was forced to admit what took place - and now faces punishment from his club.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed that the club would take disciplinary action, but described it as 'an internal matter', adding 'I do not want to comment publicly because I respect his privacy.'
Giroud, thought to earn £100,000 a week, last week avoided a £230,000 fine from the club after insisting nothing had happened.
He used Twitter to apologise to his wife Jennifer - who gave birth to son Paul last June - as well as his club.
‘I apologise to my wife, family and friends and my manager, team-mates and Arsenal fans,’ he said.
‘I now have to fight for my family and for my club and obtain their forgiveness. Nothing else matters at the moment.’
Miss Kay was pictured arriving at the Four Seasons hotel at 12.50am and leaving at 3.04am that night.
Speaking to Stephen Moyes at the Sun on Sunday, which printed her picture from inside the hotel room, she said: ‘Olivier knows the truth and the fact that he lied about us is pathetic.'
‘He’s just digging a bigger hole for himself. If he is big enough to do the crime, he’s got to serve the time.’
Giroud appeared as a second half substitute for Arsenal yesterday and will face Everton on the weekend of March 8.
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