Jack Wilshere took to the field against West Brom with a pall hanging over his head, after he was caught on camera with a cigarette in his mouth last week.
But the smoky cloud lifted after he scored the goal that rescued a point for the Gunners and kept them top of the table on goal difference at the international break.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger reprimanded the England star after the smoking incident and still thinks that his game is not up to speed.
However, he did give Wilshere credit for his game-changing contribution on Sunday.
"He had trouble today to find the rhythm of the game," Wenger told Sky Sports, after fielding Wilshere out of position as a winger.
"But he has character as well. He doesn't give up, he continues to play his game and got a great goal."
Wilshere meanwhile, was happy to focus on events on the field, insisting he has “moved on” from his brush with the tabloids.
"It was a tough game for me. I am not used to playing on the wing, I'm still getting used to it, I'm learning it, but I'm happy to do it for the team," he told Sky Sports.
"I got a goal which was nice, I've always said I want to score a few more goals.”
"When it comes to the weekend [match], you've got to do your job," he added.
"There's things that happen but at the end of the day we're footballers and we have to do our job."
