MIKEL ARTETA has the boy-next-door good looks, the clean-cut image and a reputation as a model professional.
Type his name into Google with 'controversy', 'trouble' or 'scandal' and guess what comes up? Correct — nothing.
But in an exclusive SunSport interview, the Arsenal midfield star, who turns 30 on Monday, reveals it was not always that way.
For football's Mr Perfect says he was almost led astray into the party lifestyle when he was a teenager trying to break into the big time with Barcelona.
Arteta recalled: "There was a turning point when I was with Barca and staying at La Masia. It's where the club grooms all the young players aged from 13 to 17.
"I was in a room with Pepe Reina, Victor Valdes, Carles Puyol and Andres Iniesta. That was the quality we had there.
"I tell you, even then you could look at a young Iniesta and see that he was destined for the first team.
"You just knew he was going to do very well.
"But there were also guys there who were not so dedicated, who had different characters.
"The ones who would not do this exercise, who would skip this and that in training, who would say, 'Let's jump the fence and go party'.
"Because when you are 'nearly there' as a player, it is easy to lose your head.
"So I did that with them a few times, up and over the wall and into town.
"I didn't really want to do it, I did it because the other lads wanted me to, or were saying 'Oh, you haven't the balls to do it!'
"But then I was caught and Barca were really, really tough with me.
"That was the day that I learned that, if I really wanted to succeed at football, I had to be totally focused on my game — not following those other guys."
Arteta never went AWOL again and, although he did not make the grade in Spain, he has enjoyed seven years of success in the Premier League with Everton and now at the Emirates.
And he is quick to warn any young wannabe player just how dangerous it can be to succumb to peer pressure and keep dodgy company.
He added: "It is partly down to your character and whether you have that kind of personality where you want to go off and do things like that.
"You can normally judge by the way people behave, the way people act. You can also judge by the people hanging around them.
"There's so many people who tell you how big a star you are, how nice you are, how good you are, how lovely you are.
"And when you are young you can listen to all of that. That's why it is vital that you have the right people around you — people who really love you and care about what's best for you.
"People who will say, 'Hang on, be careful, look after yourself, be good', and who are truthful to you and will say, 'You were rubbish today'.
"They are the people you must listen to — not the ones who say, 'Let's go partying' and are always looking to have a better time.
"I was lucky in that I had my mum and dad, who have looked out for me since I was a small boy.
"My mum even left her job to come and live in Barcelona to make sure I was OK because she knew it was my big chance.
"I will always be grateful because now I realise how important they were for me and my career."
Arteta's stunning wife — former Miss Spain Lorena Bernal — is the one who keeps him on the straight and narrow these days.
And the one who will be cheering him on today as Arsenal try to pull further away from London rivals Tottenham and Chelsea to secure automatic qualification for the Champions League by securing third spot.
Roberto Di Matteo's Blues take on Spurs at Stamford Bridge this lunchtime, with the in-form Gunners welcoming Aston Villa to the Emirates later.
But the Spaniard insists he and his team-mates will not be distracted by the London derby across the capital — only focused on beating Villa.
He added: "We can't afford to drop any points and we can't afford to think it will be easy.
"We have to respect Villa, not just expect to win. It will be tough.
"Before the game we will have a look at the other game, we will see how they are doing. But, to be honest, it doesn't matter what goes on there. I don't even know if it's better for us if Tottenham win or Chelsea win.
"And anyway, we can't do anything about it so it's best to shrug and say whatever happens, happens... and just concentrate on us getting three points."
Then he can give it back to all the Tottenham fans who have been ribbing him since his move to North London.
Arteta revealed: "I've had a lot of people coming up to me in the street saying, 'I'm a Tottenham fan, we are 10 points ahead of you, we are this, we are that'.
"Don't get me wrong, they were nice and it was good fun — they were so excited for their team because normally it is the other way around.
"Normally it is Arsenal so far in front — and hopefully it will be again on Saturday night."
Good excuse for a party then, Mikel. Where are we going?
Originally Posted by Fist of Lehmann
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