Jack Wilshere: Reason for Arsenal exit emerges with new role starting immediately

Jack Wilshere is to leaving his job as Arsenal's Under 18s manager to join as a first-team coach.

Wilshere has been working in the Gunners youth teams , having come through the club's academy. While hopes were high he could be a potential superstar, aged just 30 due to injury.

The former midfielder immediately moved into coaching, under the tutledge of and Arsenal's academy boss Per Metersacker. He led the Gunners Under 18s in his first season, where they were beaten by .

His success saw him interviewed by the Colorado Rapids for their head coaching role, but he ultimately turned down a move to the MLS side. Wilshere will now finally take his first steps into senior coaching at Norwich though, joining the staff of Johannes Hoff Thorup.

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It's understood the 32-year-old will officially leave on Wednesday and start at his new role on Thursday. He will effectively replace Narcis Pelach, who left Carrow Road in September to take over as manager. Norwich sporting director Ben Knapper is believed to have played a key role in bringing Wilshere to Norwich, having worked as Arsenal's loans manager until October 2023.

Arsenal's Under 18s currently sit sixth in the southern division of the Under 18s table, having lost just once this term.

Norwich meanwhile are seventh in the Championship in what is Thorup's first season as manager after replacing David Wagner in the summer.

HAVE YOUR SAY! Should Arsenal bring in another former player to replace Jack Wilshere? .

Wilshere made 197 appearances for Arsenal before spells at West Ham and . His work at Arsenal was his first move into coaching.

He emerged into the Arsenal first-team under and also returned to the Gunners to train under Arteta. Wilshere also has ambitions of becoming a manager.

“Maybe I was influenced by Arsene Wenger. Arsene was positive 95 per cent of the time. The biggest thing is looking for little things in people that inspire you. Mikel inspired me last year to really think about coaching," he told in April 2023.

"There are a few things going on in the background. My coaching style is the day-to-day on the pitch, dealing with little conversations with players, seeing what works for me, seeing what made me feel comfortable, seeing what the player needs. I’m in a great place for that.”

But now he will leave the Gunners as he bids to take a step forwards in his coaching career.

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