‘Doing a great job’: Wilshere shares who’s impressed him since temporary Arsenal return

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Jack Wilshere has told Goal that Per Mertesacker has impressed him with how the German has taken to his role as Academy Manager at Arsenal, while back training at London Colney.

The 29-year-old has returned to north London to work on his fitness after failing to join a club this summer. Wilshere also told talkSPORT earlier this week that his deal to train with Arsenal runs until January, when he could look to move to America and test himself in MLS.

But as well as training, Wilshere has spent time working with the Arsenal academy toward earning his coaching badges. His time back at Hale End, where he graduated to make his senior debut in 2008, has seen the Englishman working alongside Mertesacker once more.

Wilshere and Mertesacker made 85 appearances for Arsenal together between 2012 and 2018, and also lifted two FA Cups. The German centre-back retired at the end of 2017/18 to take up his role as Academy Manager.

Mertesacker has since overseen a complete overhaul of the set-up at Hale End and how the academy operates. Arsenal also shook up their scouting team, while Kevin Betsy replaced Steve Bould as Under-23s manager this summer.

Mertesacker impresses Wilshere with Arsenal academy work

Arsenal ended Bould’s last year in charge of the U23s 10th in Premier League 2 Division 1, but now sit third under Betsy. Mertesacker’s work shaking up the academy and helping a raft of young talents breakthrough into Arsenal’s first-team has impressed Wilshere.

Wilshere said: “He’s surrounded himself with good coaches. He’s managing it all. He’s making some big decisions and it seems like he’s making the right decisions.

“I think what everyone has to remember is the players are the most important thing in the academy at Hale End. It’s about trying to get the best out of them, surrounding them with good coaches and good people. Per is doing a great job with that.”

Mikel Arteta has given Miguel Azeez, Ben Cottrell and Folarin Balogun their Arsenal first-team debuts during his tenure so far. Emile Smith Rowe, Julio Pleguezuelo, Zech Medley and Bukayo Saka also broke through under Unai Emery.