The Gunners legend will lead his U18s team in the FA Youth Cup final, looking to win the trophy as a coach 14 years after doing so as a player
Per Mertesacker could only cross his fingers when Jack Wilshere sat down in front of him, Mikel Arteta and Edu last summer to interview for the vacant Arsenal Under-18s job. The German, who has spent the past five years as academy manager in north London having called time on his playing career, had pushed for his former team-mate to go for the role after previous head coach Dan Micciche had left for Crawley Town.
But the 2014 World Cup winner still wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the inexperienced Wilshere in such a highly pressurised situation.
“I was praying that Jack would turn up and be himself,” said Mertesacker. “That was a moment when the truth comes.
🏆 TOP STORY: Spurs consider sacking Stellini after Newcastle humiliation📣 HAVE YOUR SAY: Where should Harry Kane go this summer?🚨 MUST READ: Wout Weghorst: Man Utd's unlikely cult hero
“It was brilliant to see him presenting himself, what he stands for, what he wants to be like, what coach he wants to be and how he wants to play.
“I don’t regret it whatsoever, putting him in front of the people. He delivered in that moment.”
And with an FA Youth Cup final berth secured in his first season in charge, Wilshere has carried on delivering.
Getty ImagesA remarkable first year
There have been some ups and down, especially in the league, where Arsenal have struggled for consistency.
But on Tuesday, Wilshere will lead his side out in the Youth Cup final against West Ham at Emirates Stadium, hoping to end the Gunners’ 14-year wait to get their hands on the trophy.
Whatever happens, it’s been a remarkable achievement from Wilshere in his first season as coach, and Mertesacker couldn’t be happier with how things have materialised.
“He’s made a huge impact,” said the German. “To go on an FA Youth Cup run like he did, who could have done that? I think he has done amazing in his transition.
“Do we have tough conversations sometimes on the league position that we’re in? Yes, of course. But that’s something we kind of expected. We will have tough times together.
“But in terms of his first year in a head-coaching position, I think he has created a good energy. I’m really pleased.”
AdvertisementGetty Images'Bringing Jack back meant we needed to support him'
There were plenty of eyebrows raised when Wilshere was named as Arsenal’s new U18s head coach last summer.
The appointment came just a week after the former England international had announced his retirement as a player.
Wilshere’s decision to hang up his boots at the age of just 30 was so he could pursue a career in coaching. He’d fallen in love with the idea during the six months he’d spent back at Arsenal during the 2021-22 season, when he spent a lot of time working with the academy teams while training with Mikel Arteta’s senior squad.
But few expected him to walk straight into one of the top coaching roles at Arsenal so early on.
“Bringing Jack back meant we needed to support him,” Mertesacker admitted. “That meant not only me, or Luke Hobbs [head of academy coaching]. That meant Edu, Mikel, the assistant coaches. Everybody needed to help with that process.
“Head coach is a big job. It’s not just about working on the grass and being a role model and an inspiration. It’s about how you deal with staff, with all the emails, with how you delegate.”
GettyEmail misery
Dealing with the administrative side of the role was something Wilshere did struggle with in the first few months following his appointment.
“The corporate world, all the emails, I was like ‘what’s going on here??’", he admitted during an interview earlier this month.
But it’s something he’s now adapted to, and that has allowed him to really focus on the side of the job he loves, working with his players on the training pitches at London Colney.
And he’s certainly inspired his current crop of youngsters when it comes to the Youth Cup this season.
Arsenal have been involved in thrilling clashes from the start of their run, winning 3-2 at Newcastle, coming from two goals down to win 4-2 at Oxford and scoring last-minute winners to see off Cambridge and Manchester City in the quarter-final and semi-final, respectively.
Victory against West Ham on Tuesday would see Wilshere win the trophy as a coach 14 years after he won it for the Gunners as a player in 2009.
And it would only add to the romantic suggestion that one day Wilshere could perhaps follow in the footsteps of Arsene Wenger and Arteta by taking charge of the first-team.
GettyFrimpong’s backing
“Jack can definitely be the manager for us in the future because he knows a lot about football and has played under some great managers in the past,” said Wilshere's former Arsenal team-mate Emmanuel Frimpong, who was talking to GOAL via Lord Ping.
“I’m very happy for Jack. If you told me [when we were players] that he would be a coach or manager, I would never have believed you.
“’It’s a great opportunity for him. Arsenal is like a family. Wherever you go, whenever you need help, they're always willing to help you.
“He needs to take the opportunity to learn as much as he can from Mikel and the other coaches there.Hopefully he can become the manager for Arsenal in the future.”
