Jack Wilshere admits his love for football has returned courtesy of his role coaching the Arsenal U18s.
The former midfielder is now spending his time in the dugout having called it quits on his playing career, which began in north London with so much promise. Wilshere was tipped to go to the top but constant injury problems, coupled with inconsistent form, eventually saw him leave and begin a nomadic end to his time as a player.
Wilshere is still only 31 but is now looking to inspire the next generation, with an FA Youth Cup semi-final to come against Manchester City. The former midfielder was only handed the gig with the teenagers after he returned to Arsenal in an effort to keep fit, but has thrived since getting the opportunity.
He told the Daily Mail : "It’s given me back the real deep love for football. And I didn’t know I’d lost it, to be honest. I came back here last year - I was coaching a bit, training a bit. Then I had a decision to make."
The former England international is now working under a man whom he once played with in the middle of the park - Mikel Arteta. The Spaniard has transformed the Gunners since arriving late in 2019 and could end their lengthy wait for a league title. Beyond that though, Wilshere has been hugely impressed by Arteta, who has left his mark, citing the way he deals with individuals as a major strength.
"He’s a really intelligent coach, but he also knows how to motivate people," he said. "When you have a connection with your players like Mikel does – and you can see that he really cares – players buy into that and they’ll do anything you want really. You can tell them to build with three at the back or four at the back, but it’s deeper than that."
Wilshere knows full well about the motivation of trying to make it at the Emirates. He made his debut In September 2008, becoming the club's youngest player at the time as a 16-year-old. Since then he's seen the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe come through at London Colney.
His task is to find the next generational star, with Saka in particular becoming a leading light with his club and his country. The strength and quality of the current Arsenal team is not making that easy however, with the standard immensely high.
Wilshere claimed: "This club has a tradition of bringing through young players, developing them and trusting them. What makes my job harder is that the first team keeps raising the bar… (so) we have to keep raising the bar as well, otherwise who is going to be the next B or the next Emile?"
