Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has defended the Premiership's stars as their behaviour comes under ever more scrutiny.
The reputation of the top flight's millionaire players has taken a battering this week following a spate of high-profile stories of loutish behaviour in the Press.
But although the Premiership's image has suffered, Wenger believes that players are now more aware of their responsibilities than they were when he took over at Highbury five years ago.
The Frenchman told the Sunday People: "I have not known a week like this one for bad publicity. People seem to be fed-up with footballers.
"But I think behaviour has improved a lot in my time here.
"We don't have a problem with alcohol. It is just that it is less acceptable nowadays. And maybe that is because footballers make so much money."
Wenger also defended the right of players to be able socialise and enjoy themselves.
He added: "I like my players to go out, it creates camaraderie. When you are a 25-year-old, you should not have to live like a monk.
"If you are a young man why shouldn't you go to a disco to have a dance?
"But we have rules... rules that say our players should behave like sportsmen.
"I think you should be entitled to a private life and a public life. But when are you private and when are you public? "Sometimes, it is hard to understand."