Arsenal are yet to appoint a new U21 manager for next season following the departure of Mehmet Ali to Brentford.
Ali recently left North London to join Premier League rivals Brentford as part of Keith Andrews’ new coaching team.
With the importance of Hale End showing last season as Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly came to the fore for Mikel Arteta, the Gunners will want a successor as soon as possible.
Jack Wilshere could return to Arsenal after having previously coached the U18 side and is currently without a club after leaving Norwich. A potential rival for the position has just dropped out of the race too.
Former Gunners midfielder Santi Cazorla has ended speculation linking him with a return to North London after signing a new contract with Real Oviedo.
Following Carlos Cuesta’s departure to Parma as their new manager, both Wilshere and Cazorla were linked with a return to Arsenal’s coaching staff before eventually appointing Gabriel Heinze.
Those links then deviated to the vacant U21 managerial role with Per Mertesacker and Arteta eager for the position to be filled quickly.
However, the Spaniard will now spend another year with his boyhood club in La Liga, ending any chances of Cazorla’s ‘fairytale’ return to Arsenal this summer.
Arteta has the final decision on coaching appointments at Arsenal and has already given his backing to Wilshere returning to the club should he wish.
Wilshere is seeking his first opportunity in management following his interim spell at Norwich and was linked with Plymouth Argyle earlier in the summer.
The U21 side may be the perfect stepping stone for the former Hale End star with the opportunity to develop players, while having a close link with Arteta’s first-team.
The side also have the opportunity to pit themselves against League One and Two opposition in the EFL Trophy – further enhancing Wilshere’s exposure to clubs around the country.
