Jack Wilshere agrees to leave Arsenal for first team role

Jack Wilshere leads the Arsenal U18 team at the FA Youth Cup (photo from Arsenal.com)

Wilshere’s last day at the club will be Wednesday and he will begin his new role at Norwich on Thursday. He will work as assistant to Norwich manager Johannes Hoffa Thorup.

Former Arsenal loan manager Ben Knapper is said to have played a key role in the deal as he now works as Norwich’s sporting director.

Former Arsenal player Wilshere has returned to the club as manager since July 2022, with the highlight of his career reaching the FA Youth Cup final in the 2022/23 season.

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 4, 2023. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

Despite some uncertainty as to which players will be available each week, Wilshere’s U18 side have made a relatively good start to the season.

After victories over London rivals West Ham and Chelsea, the team drew 3–3 with West Brom, Southampton and Brighton. There was certainly no shortage of excitement in the games.

That unbeaten run ended at the weekend when Arsenal’s youth team lost to Aston Villa.

Wilshere’s youth team at Arsenal were in some ways victims of their own talent.

Chido Martin Obi would ideally have been the team’s striker this year as well, but his glut of goals at the start of 2024 has inspired him to turn down a new Arsenal deal amid promises of more from Manchester United.

Arsenal’s exclusive group of under-18 players have rarely played football together, leaving gaps for players like 14-year-old Max Dauman to become regular under-18 players this season.

Wilshere has done an excellent job during his time under these circumstances and will now deservedly move into a first-team role.