Overview

• The under-21 head coach role became vacant after Mehmet Ali left in July to join Brentford’s backroom staff under Keith Andrews.
• Wilshere, 33, has entered advanced negotiations to return as Arsenal’s under-21 head coach.
• No formal agreement has been reached as the club continues to evaluate both internal and external candidates.
• He previously led Arsenal’s under-18s to the 2022-23 FA Youth Cup final and served briefly as Norwich City’s interim manager.
• Arsenal views the appointment as key to aligning its academy pathway with Mikel Arteta’s first-team philosophy and nurturing prospects like Ethan Nwaneri.