The 32: Ray Parlour reveals how he once appeared for Arsenal while drunk

Ray Parlour explained to The 32 how he was fined by Arsenal boss George Graham – for being a substitute while drunk.

The ex-Gunner midfielder talked about his playing career in the latest episode of Yahoo’s daily World Cup show.

And Parlour, 45, admitted to being under the influence during an Arsenal away game because he didn’t think he would get on the substitutes’ bench.

Parlour was part of the Arsenal squad which travelled to a game against Liverpool in 1993.

But when he found out he wasn’t on the bench, he decided to have a drink with Steve Bould in an Anfield hospitality lounge.

‘Four or five of us were left out and I was only 19 at the time, so I said to Steve Bould – one of our biggest drinkers at the time – ‘what do we do now?’

‘He said we should go upstairs and have a drink in the Carlsberg Lounge at Anfield. I was a youngster and he was a senior pro, so I thought that’s what you do.

‘We went upstairs and I was on my fifth pint, having a great time, when Stewart Houston, our assistant manager, walked in and said, ‘What are you doing?’

‘He said the manager was going crazy because I was sub – someone had got injured in the warm-up.

‘Steve Bould said, “Let him finish his pint!”’

Parlour was named a substitute in the league clash, but he didn’t get any game time.

The Arsenal legend added: ‘I put my drink down, went downstairs got dressed and was on the bench. The other players were telling me to have some chewing gum because I stank of booze.

‘With 20 minutes to go George Graham told me to warm up, and I could feel the booze going up and down in my stomach.

THE WORLD CUP’S BEST FAN COSTUMES: CLICK BELOW FOR SLIDESHOW

‘I didn’t get on in the end and the game finished 0-0, but afterwards George Graham pointed at me and fined me two weeks’ wages there and then.’

Parlour spent 12 years at Arsenal, making more than 300 appearances and winning three Premier Leagues and four FA Cups.

You can watch the full episode of The 32 by clicking here.