Jack Wilshere has shared why he regrets his decision to leave Arsenal back in 2018.
The former Arsenal midfielder had the world at his feet after making his debut under Arsene Wenger back in 2008.
Jack Wilshere was just 16 when he made his Premier League debut and became Arsenal’s youngest-ever player to feature in the competition at the time.
Of course, the Englishman went on to become a first-team regular under Wenger and his performance against Barcelona back in 2011 remains a highlight of his career.
But Wilshere struggled with injuries during his time at the Emirates Stadium and an ankle injury during his breakthrough campaign left him sidelined for a total of 524 days.
He eventually moved on in the summer of 2018 after struggling for minutes at his boyhood club and it remains a decision he regrets.
Wilshere on leaving Arsenal
Speaking on Up Front with Simon Jordan, Wilshere discussed his decision to leave Arsenal.
“Frustration is the first thing that comes to mind,” he admitted. “Yes, I finished at 30 which was early. But being honest, probably when I left Arsenal I certainly was on the way down.
“Struggled a bit at West Ham to find fitness and form. At that point, I look back and I thought I should have stayed at Arsenal, they offered me a deal.
“But probably what I was holding onto was that support around Arsenal, the physios, the doctor, who I really knew well and understood me. I lost that when I left Arsenal and that was the beginning of the end for me.”
After spells at West Ham, Bournemouth and Danish side Aarhus, Wilshere retired from football aged 30 back in 2022.
Since hanging up his boots, the 32-year-old has been working as Arsenal’s Under-18s manager and passing down his experience to the next generation at his boyhood club.
Despite his injuries, Wilshere enjoyed some brilliant moments in an Arsenal shirt and scored one of the best team goals in Premier League history.
Wilshere’s goal vs Norwich
Everyone remembers Wilshere’s dominant display in the middle of the park against Pep Guardiola’s Barcelona 13 years ago.
But a moment which will undoubtedly spring to mind for Arsenal fans when looking back at his career was his goal against Norwich City.
Wilshere started the move from just outside his box and eventually played a give-and-go with both Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud before tucking the ball home.
It remains one of the best goals we’ve witnessed in the Premier League era and displayed exactly what Wilshere was capable of.
While his career didn’t go according to plan due to injuries, Wilshere is undeniably a fan-favourite at Arsenal and it’s brilliant to see him involved with the club as a coach.
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