Jack Wilshere close to Arsenal exit | OneFootball

Jack Wilshere‘s time at Arsenal appears to be nearing its end, with the former midfielder poised to join Norwich City as their first-team coach.

The Championship side are confident of securing Wilshere, who currently serves as Arsenal’s under-18s manager, to fill a vacancy left by Narcís Pèlach, who departed last month to take the head coaching job at Stoke City.

The move would see Wilshere, 32, link up with Norwich sporting director Ben Knapper, a familiar figure from their time at Arsenal when Knapper was loans manager.

LONDON, ENGLAND – APRIL 04: 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 in London, England. (Photo by Alex Davidson/Getty Images)

This relationship seems to have smoothed the way for negotiations, and the expected agreement is largely viewed as a formality, with Arsenal reportedly giving their blessing to facilitate the move.

Norwich have been impressed by Wilshere’s progress since moving into coaching, having made a seamless transition into management after retiring from playing two years ago.

Since then, Wilshere has worked his way up the ranks at Arsenal’s academy, starting with the under-14s before being appointed as head coach of the under-18s, whom he notably guided to the FA Youth Cup final.

Jack Wilshere talks to Reuell Walters with the Arsenal academy (Photo via Arsenal Academy on Twitter)

While youth coaching differs significantly from the senior game, Wilshere has shown considerable aptitude and enthusiasm for developing young talent, and he now appears ready to take on the challenge of coaching at a higher level.

Norwich are eager to utilise his expertise as they seek to return to the Premier League, following their relegation in the 2021-22 season. The club, currently seventh in the Championship and unbeaten in their last four matches, visit Pèlach’s new side, Stoke, on Saturday.

Wilshere’s path towards a senior role has been the subject of some speculation for months. Back in February, he was linked with the vacant Aberdeen job after Barry Robson was dismissed, but he was overlooked due to a lack of senior coaching experience.

Jack Wilshere coaching the Arsenal u18s (Photo via Arsenal Academy on Twitter)

In April, reports emerged that Wilshere had indeed applied for the Aberdeen head coach position, though he ultimately lost out to Jimmy Thelin, who has since led Aberdeen to an impressive 13 consecutive victories.

Before that, Wilshere was among the final candidates for the head coach role at Colorado Rapids, a club owned by Stan Kroenke. Although he impressed during the interview process, the Rapids chose Chris Armas for the role instead.

Norwich’s offer now presents a significant opportunity for Wilshere to gain experience within a first-team environment. He is expected to join Johannes Hoff Thorup‘s staff, with a compensation package between Arsenal and Norwich likely to pose no problems.

LONDON, ENGLAND: Jack Wilshere during the STATSports event on May 24, 2022. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

For Wilshere, this is a chance to prove himself in senior management, and he is believed to be enthusiastic about the project and the prospects of helping the Canaries fight for promotion.

Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s head coach, previously spoke positively of Wilshere’s impact at the club, acknowledging that the interest from other clubs was inevitable given his promising start to coaching. “I’m really happy that Jack is part of the setup. I think he’s done really well, I think he was really needed around the academy and the place,” Arteta said in October 2023. “These things are going to happen when people are doing well. He’s going to get attraction, and then it’s going to come down to him to make the best decision for his career.”

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

As Wilshere prepares for his next step, it seems only a matter of time before he leaves Arsenal to pursue a head coach role. His ambition to eventually return to manage Arsenal’s first team remains evident, but for now, Norwich City offers a vital step in his journey to gaining the experience needed to fulfil that dream.