Arsene Wenger Makes Surprising Choice For The Arsenal Star He Says Could Become The Club's Manager

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has surprisingly backed midfielder Jack Wilshere to follow in his footsteps and become the club’s manager one day.

Sky Sports report that Wenger believes Wilshere’s personality and footballing brain make him a great candidate for the role, even while the player has just been sent out on loan to AFC Bournemouth. Wilshere made the shock move in the final hours of the transfer window last week after Wenger failed to guarantee him regular first team football.

While stressing he will be a key player upon his return to the Emirates next season, Wenger also had another idea in mind for the England international.

He said:

“I hope personally that he stays here his whole career.”

“Certainly one day he will be in my [manager’s] seat. He has a real football brain and understands football. You know really, it’s in his genes. I see him in the future at this club of course. He will spend his life in football, he is a football man.”

“He has an eye on everybody, it’s in him. You have that or you haven’t got it, but he is a real football man.”

Wenger has backed the 24-year-old to flourish with his new club in the Premier League, and revealed that the shock decision was taken in the first place because of the competition in Arsenal’s midfield – and a likely lack of chances for Wilshere to play.

He added:

“If he plays, he will play really well because he cannot play badly. But the first person to be happy about that, would be me. I do not try to be right, but if I give him out and he plays, I will be more right.”

“What you want more than anything is for a player with his talent to play. In a selfish way, you want him to play for your club but there is a bigger perspective, you want him to play and express his talent.”

“He has a great footballing brain, and understands everything that is going on on the football pitch. He is most dangerous when you give him the ball in the final third.”

“We had a chat together and he himself was concerned that he would not get enough competition early enough, because he feels ready to play. I couldn’t guarantee that, so that’s why [we took] the decision.”