Mikel Arteta says he fully expects Jack Wilshere to return to Arsenal in the future but for now, he’s happy that his players have helped the midfielder rediscover his love for football.
After several months of training with the Gunners’ first team, it was announced this week that Danish side AGF Aarhus have signed the 30-year-old on an initial six-month contract.
Vi er glade for at kunne byde @JackWilshere velkommen til AGF og til #aarhus 🤝⚽⬇ #ksdh #sldk
— AGF (@AGFFodbold) February 20, 2022
For Wilshere, the deal ends an eight-month spell without a club and, following a spate of frustrating injuries, the opportunity to re-energise a playing career that has faltered since he left Emirates Stadium.
“First of all, thank you for what he’s done in all the time with us,” said Arteta on Wednesday.
“It’s been great to have him and speaking on behalf of everybody at the club it’s been absolutely a pleasure to have Jack back, to enjoy watching him play again next to us, to have him around, the inspiration that he is to all the young people.
“Hopefully, we can help him, we have helped him a bit as well because he was in doubt about what to do, whether to start coaching or continue playing.
“This group of players have given him again that necessity to experience on a daily basis, how magnificent it is to feel like a football player. I think he wants to experience that again and we wish him the best of luck.”
For the time being, Wilshere’s move puts his coaching ambitions on the back burner although he’s made enough of an impression working with Arsenal’s academy youngsters that Arteta has no doubts the club will welcome him back.
“100 per cent,” said Arteta when asked if he can see the player coming back to London Colney.
“I think everybody at the club will be willing to open the doors for him and try to find a role for him that can work for everybody. I think that will happen naturally.”
Arteta also joked that there’s no doubt that Wilshere has matured since the pair shared a dressing room during Arsene Wenger’s days at the club. Back then, Wilshere had a reputation for boyish tomfoolery, best exemplified by his teasing our local neighbours.
“I think he’s come a long way,” said Arteta. “I don’t think he can lose that spontaneity that he has, the character and the funny moments that he can produce because that’s part of Jack, obviously. But the years have gone by and he’s matured a lot.”
For those that don’t know, Aarhus is in the middle of Aarstreet.
Madness…
You’re an embarrassment..
I hope we saw Jack off with a small kiss……..
Well played sir
It is indeed! I visited many years ago, but I remember it just like it was yesterday … It was a Grey Day so I decided to don my Baggy Trousers and go Driving in my Car with My Girl in the hope that we could see the Sun and the Rain. On stumbling across a port, we impulsively took the Night Boat to Cairo and eventually landed in Aarhus. I almost had a Cardiac Arrest when I arrived as I discovered that it’s just One Step Beyond the House of Fun. Shut Up! I hear you say. OK, I… Read more »
Madness!!!
Excellent!!!!
Thank you, Sir. It’s and an Embarrassment that I couldn’t fit Michael Caine in too 😉
Aarhus – isn’t that where we used to sleep?
Conducting the “Spurs are sh*t” song isn’t “boyish tomfoolery” though! 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣😃😃😃😃
Nice words from Mikel. Jack’s Arsenal career may have been blighted by injury, but there’s still something of the legend about him. And he’ll always have that Norwich goal…
As a Dane, it is really awesome to see him joining the league. Though he joins a rival I’ll definitely cheer for him. Wish you all the best Jack.
Wish Jack all the best on his new adventure, can’t help think a lot of coach’s from English/Scottish leagues must of came down to training ground to view him and why they wouldn’t take a punt on
a class player must be down to contracts, hope this goes well for Jack and he restarts his career.
As both an Arsenal and AGF supporter i couldn’t be more excited! Reaaaally hope he still has a bit left in the tank – nothing would make me happier than jack taking us back into the danish top four (and access to the conference league 😉)
I feel we are regaing our class as a club once more. All the best, Super Jack, hope to see you coaching in the academy once you have fulfilled all your goals as a player.
Pleased for Jack that he’s been able to get back to a level that has seen him find a new club.
Also pleased that the door seems to be wide open for him to return at the end of his playing career.
Good on Mikel,the players for helping him reignite his love for the game, and the club for accomodating Jack.
All the best Jack!