Jack Wilshere agrees to leave Arsenal for first-team role | OneFootball

Jack Wilshere has decided to leave Arsenal for a first-team coaching role at Norwich City, and he’ll complete the move this week.

Jack Wilshere manages the Arsenal u18s in the FA Youth Cup (Photo via Arsenal.com)

Arsenal u18 head coach Jack Wilshere is leaving the club to join Norwich City, according to David Ornstein of The Athletic.

Wilshere’s last day at the club will be on Wednesday, and he’ll begin his new role at Norwich on Thursday. He’ll be working as an assistant to Norwich head coach Johannes Hoff Thorup.

Former Arsenal loan manager Ben Knapper was reportedly key to the deal, given he now works as Norwich’s sporting director.

Former Arsenal player Wilshere has been back at the club in a coaching capacity since July 2022, and the peak of his spell was a run to the final of the FA Youth Cup in 2022/23.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Arsenal U18 Head Coach, Jack Wilshere during the FA Youth Cup Semi-Final match between Arsenal U18 and Manchester City U18 at Emirates Stadium on April 04, 2023. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Despite some uncertainty about which players would be available from week to week, Wilshere’s u18 team made a relatively strong start to the season.

After wins over London rivals West Ham and Chelsea, the team went on a run of 3-3 draws against West Brom, Southampton, and Brighton. The games certainly didn’t lack for excitement.

That unbeaten run ended at the weekend, with the Arsenal u18s losing to Aston Villa.

Jack Wilshere coaching the Arsenal u18s (Photo via Arsenal.com)

Wilshere’s u18 group at Arsenal was somewhat a victim of its own talent.

The likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly should have been playing for the u18s this season, but they’re in the first-team squad instead. Similarly, Ayden Heaven is in the u21s, and Jack Porter has also had call-ups at higher levels recently.

Chido Martin Obi ideally should have been up front for the side this year too, but his glut of goals in early 2024 inspired him to turn down a new Arsenal deal for promises of more with Manchester United.

Arsenal’s exceptional group of u18 players have rarely played football together, leaving gaps for the likes of 14-year-old Max Dowman to become u18 regulars this season.

Wilshere did a solid job during his spell in those circumstances, and he’ll now deservedly move on to a first-team role.