Jack Wilshere set to return to Arsenal as under-21 manager

Jack Wilshere appears poised to rejoin the club’s academy structure, just months after his Arsenal exit.

Jack Wilshere is reportedly set to make a return to Arsenal’s youth setup, as under-21 boss, after Mehmet Ali left the Gunners to join Brentford as an assistant coach. According to Teamnewsandtix, all parties are confident that the deal will be concluded, following his recent departure from Norwich City.

Wilshere’s potential homecoming would represent a familiar path for the midfielder, who previously served as Arsenal’s under-18s head coach from July 2022 until October 2024. During that initial stint in the youth setup, he made an immediate impact by guiding the young Gunners to the FA Youth Cup final in his first full season, where they were defeated by West Ham United at The Emirates.

The former Arsenal academy graduate left his coaching role at the Emirates Stadium to pursue first-team coaching opportunities at Norwich City in the Championship. His time at Carrow Road proved eventful, initially joining as an assistant to Johannes Hoff Thorup before being thrust into the spotlight when he was appointed interim manager in April 2025 following Thorup’s dismissal.

However, Wilshere’s tenure as Norwich’s interim boss was brief, lasting just two matches at the conlusion of the 2024/25 season. He confirmed his departure from the Canaries in May 2025, stating his desire to pursue head coaching opportunities elsewhere. His exit from Norwich came after the club’s disappointing campaign that saw them finish well outside the Championship playoff positions.

Wilshere’s coaching philosophy, heavily influenced by his time under Arsène Wenger and work with Mikel Arteta, aligns perfectly with Arsenal’s development approach. During his previous academy tenure, he worked with promising talents including Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Max Dowman, with several sources noting the positive impact he had on their development.

Reports after his exit revealed that the Arsenal academy players were left extremely disappointed when hearing the news of the 33 year-old’s Arsenal departure.

The return would see Wilshere reunite with academy manager Per Mertesacker, his former teammate who previously praised his development as a coach. Mertesacker had described Wilshere’s coaching progression as “really impressive” and noted his ability to serve as both a technical role model and exemplary person for Arsenal’s young players.