Jack Wilshere reveals Arsenal role in surprise managerial appointment - 'when I left'

Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has revealed that he didn't want to leave the Gunners for first-team management until he joined Norwich City. The 33-year-old cut his teeth in the under-18s at London Colney before making the move to the Canaries.

Wilshere arrived at Carrow Road as first-team coach under Johannes Hoff Thorup but with just two matches remaining in the Championship campaign, the Canaries relieved the head coach of his duties, forcing the Gunners academy graduate to step into the caretaker position after a matter of months in the dugout.

As part of his introduction into first-team football management, Wilshere will come up against former Arsenal teammate Aaron Ramsey.

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The Welshman was installed as temporary head coach for Cardiff City's relegation battle, with the two in opposing dugouts on the final day of the Championship season.

The Welsh club could need to beat Wilshere's side to stay in the second tier, heaping pressure on Ramsey - who was within the first-team set-up as a player before his promotion.

The 32-year-old has offered insight into how he was repeatedly linked with managerial roles but opted to speak to sporting directors and other chiefs within the football club hierarchy to strengthen his skills during the interview process.

He said: "When I was thinking about this press conference, I understand that you were going to ask me that question but I also hope you understand that I've been in this role for two-and-a-half days.

"But like you said, I made the decision to come here and leave Arsenal.

"I spent two years there as head coach of the under-18s, I wanted to do that, I felt that it was an important part of my journey into coaching.

"I didn't want to leave Arsenal until I felt I was ready to have an impact in first-team football.

"There was probably a few reports over the years, I was talking to this club, that club, I spoke to clubs as part of my coaching journey. I wanted to speak to technical directors, sporting directors to see how those conversations go, what's it like.

"I had no intention of leaving Arsenal until I was ready to make an impact at this level.

"With that in mind, I feel ready to be a head coach at this level, to have an impact but also knowing that the next two games are really important."

Wilshere was Arsenal under-18s manager before making the switch to Norfolk, during his time instructing the potential stars of the future, he oversaw the development of Chido Obi and Ayden Heaven, who both made high-profile moves to Manchester United.

For the former Arsenal man, Norwich sit in the bottom half of the table, seven points clear of the drop zone, but the decision came after a run of three straight defeats - extending their winless run to five.