Arsenal legend under gambling addiction: My wife checks my phone and gives me pocket money

2022-07-14 19:37:26, Sport CNA

Arsenal legend Paul Merson talks about his battle with gambling. The former player has spent £7 million on alcohol and gambling, but is trying to get out of this habit, thanks to the crucial help of his wife. The 54-year-old, in a long interview with GB News, admits that he can no longer trust himself.

In fact, the former player managed to overcome his alcohol addiction, but found that betting is more difficult to deal with. Gambling requires a "constant battle every day", so it is his wife who now takes care of all the money. The woman checks his phone every day and gives him pocket money.

Speaking to Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster on GB News, Merson explained just how difficult this battle is: “With gambling it's a constant battle every day. It's better, of course, but I have my days. It's sad what happened, but I was sick and I realized that. I am a sick person trying to get well. I'm not a bad or weak person who fails every day of his life, I'm a sick person who needs to get well soon."

Merson, i cili vendosi bastin e tij të parë në moshën 16-vjeçare dhe shpenzoi të gjithë rrogën e parë të Arsenalit në vetëm 10 minuta në William Hill, shpjegoi se humbi kohë të çmuar për shkak të varësisë së tij: “Kam humbur shumë para, mos më keqkuptoni, kam humbur një shumë të pabesueshme parash, por kam humbur edhe kohë. Nuk do ta kem kurrë kohën pas. Unë mund t’i fitoj paratë, por nuk mund të fitoj më mbrapsht kohën. Nuk mund të kthehem më kurrë pas dhe të zgjedh të shkoj të shoh fëmijët në lojërat shkollore në vend që të ulem në bare dhe pika bastesh”.

Finally, the former player thanks his wife who is helping him a lot in this battle: "My wife still picks up my phone and checks it, because she still doesn't believe what I've done. I lost everything. She cares about money. Now, I have pocket money, I'm 54, but that's all I need. I can't have money around me."