Paul Merson has been arrested on suspicion of drink-driving after he crashed his car on the motorway.
The 43-year-old admitted that he fell asleep at the wheel of his Mercedes before he hit a lorry and central reservation.
The former Arsenal midfielder was arrested after he took a breath test on the hard shoulder of the M40 at around 3am on Wednesday morning.
He was then taken to a nearby hospital where a blood sample was sent off for analysis.
"I fell asleep and just hit the central reservation," he told The Mirror. "I banged my head on the windscreen and the car is a write-off.
"I'm very lucky to have survived. I managed to get out by myself and the emergency services were brilliant."
Merson made over 600 appearances during his 21-year career.
