MLS-linked Wilshere could manage Arsenal one day – Arteta

Mikel Arteta has described Jack Wilshere as a “big asset” who could one day manage Arsenal, amid interest in the 31-year-old from Colorado Rapids.

ESPN reported last week that Wilshere had interviewed for the MLS job, which was filled on an interim basis by Chris Little following Robin Fraser’s dismissal in September.

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Sources told ESPN that Wilshere, Arsenal’s under-18s coach, was one of five candidates being considered for the job and, speaking on Friday about the situation, Arteta said: “First of all, I’m really happy that Jack is part of the team, I think he’s done really well, he’s brought something that was very needed at the academy and surrounding areas.

“These things are going to happen when people are doing well – you’re going to be attracted and then it’s going to be up to him to make what he believes is the best decision for his career.”

As early as September 2016, when Wilshere was just 24, then-Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger suggested he could be a future manager and Arteta repeated the claim after Wilshere made a promising start to his career as a coach, guiding Arsenal’s U18s to the FA Youth Cup final in his first season.

Asked if Wilshere could be Arsenal’s manager “in the long term” in the future, Arteta replied: “In the long term you don’t know when it will happen. It can be very soon. He has the potential to do so.

“Now he clearly knows what he wants to do and the reasons why he wants to do it. I think it’s a great asset for the club to have him here.”

Arsenal travel to Chelsea on Saturday hoping to welcome back Bukayo Saka and Leandro Trossard following hamstring injuries while William Saliba battles to overcome a toe problem.