Jack Wilshere has been announced as the 33-year-old new manager of League One club Luton Town, in his first full-time managerial role after spells at Arsenal’s youth organization and Norwich City.
Jack Wilshere has revealed that Mikel Arteta told him to “jump in” and “swim as hard as he could” in his first managerial role. On Monday, it was announced that Wilshere, 33, will be the new manager of League One side Luton Town.
The former Arsenal star has been appointed to replace Matt Bloomfield, who was sacked earlier this month after less than a year at Kenilworth Road. Luton are currently 11th in the table and have suffered successive relegations.
Wilshere has worked in Arsenal’s academy and as a first-team coach at Norwich City, but his move to Luton will be his first full-time managerial role. At his inaugural press conference, the England international, who has made 34 appearances, revealed what advice he received from Arteta, who he also played with at Arsenal.
“About a year ago, I asked Mikel when he would be ready,” Wilshire recalled. “He laughed and said, ‘All you have to do is jump in and swim as hard as you can.’
“He’s done that really well and I feel like this is a bit similar. It’s a different level, but Arsenal wasn’t in a good place when Mikel came in. The fans didn’t know what was going on, but he had complete unity and trust in what he was doing.”
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Earlier this year, Wilshere revealed that a heartwarming gesture from Arteta summed up their relationship. “I like Mikel a lot,” the former Gunners midfielder told TNT Sports.
“Because I played with him, No. 1, and a lot of the players who played with him said they expected him to be a coach, and I was exactly the same.
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“And he invited me when I was really struggling to find a club. And like he said, I was part of the club and he made me feel part of it too. So, to be honest, what he’s done for this club, I’m very happy for him and for the staff.”
Wilshere also likes the way Arteta motivates his players. “When I was growing up, there wasn’t that aspect of coaching at all,” he told Goal. “Arsene[Wenger]never brought in a light bulb or played music before a match, but part of me feels that’s genius.
“In this generation, you have Instagram and you’re constantly watching motivational videos and things like that to motivate yourself. I think that’s working, and Mikel has done a great job of immersing himself in different things and building around that.”
Wilshere’s first game as Luton manager will be at home to Mansfield Town on Saturday before the trip to Northampton. The Hatters are in good form with one win from six games and have the second-lowest goal difference among teams in the top half of League One.
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