Former midfielder and current head coach of the under-18s, Jack Wilshere, has spoken out about how Hale End youngsters need to use the success of Spain’s Lamine Yamal at Euro 2024 final personally.
As a boyhood fan, the Englishman rose up through the Arsenal academy as a prodigy ever since he joined the club at the age of nine after a short spell at Luton Town’s youth set-up.
Injuries put paid to his chances of a lengthy career for the Gunners after being touted as one of the Premier League’s best midfielders.
In his teenage years, he did not look out of place alongside the likes of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri and ended up playing 125 times for the first team, scoring seven goals.
Wilshere played alongside Mikel Arteta during his time at Arsenal and has followed the footsteps of the Spaniard into a coaching role within the under-18 set-up.
Wilshere urges youngsters to take Yamal’s success ‘personally’
After Spain got the better of Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka in Sunday’s Euro 2024 final, the topic of Lamine Yamal was highly debated.
Speaking in an interview on talkSPORT, Arsenal under-18s coach Jack Wilshere was posed the question of whether his Hale End youngsters would see Lamine Yamal’s rise to stardom as a positive or a more dispiriting influence given where their careers are in comparison.
“There should be that feeling. I feel like the ones that have any chance of getting close or making it at any kind of level have to take that a little bit personally and see that he’s setting a new bar and try to reach for that,” Wilshere said.
The comment comes at a crucial juncture for some young players within the ranks at Arsenal with expectations to make the step up. Ethan Nwaneri is one of those who could emulate Wilshere’s early success, he starred in the Arsenal XI game against Boreham Wood last weekend.
Being equipped with an English heart and Spanish technique himself, Arsenal legend Wilshere also spoke about how well he thinks the Spaniard has handled the pressure, similar to how he was subject to similar noise at a young age.
“I think that just shows what level [Lamine] Yamal is at, not just as a player, but also as a person, to be able to handle that because it’s difficult.”
Jack Wilshere highlights Hale End influence to Bukayo Saka’s success
Bukayo Saka had yet another promising tournament on the big stage at Euro 2024, despite not being up to his usual standards in the final, according to some England fans.
Speaking on the buzz that Saka’s rise has caused around Hale End, the former midfielder couldn’t speak highly enough of the ripple effect the 22-year-old fan favourite has had.
“I think there’s a buzz around the whole club to be honest, especially at Hale End. It’s a special place and they like to celebrate players like Bukayo [Saka] and all the players that come through.
“Similarly to Yamal, Bukayo is setting another bar for players to reach, to aspire to. The way he handles himself is a credit to the academy. As everyone says, he’s the starboy,” Wilshere added.
It wasn’t to be for the Saka last night, the focus will now turn to the new season fixtures with the start only a month away.
Interesting times ahead during pre-season to see how involved Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka are, given they have been ever-presents across the whole season.
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