Arsenal game called off as bus takes wrong turn and ends up two hours away

04 November 2023 , 16:16

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Jack Wilshere is in charge of Arsenal's Under-18s (Image: Getty Images)

Arsenal's Under-18s match against Brighton was called off on Saturday after the team bus took a wrong turn on the M25.

Jack Wilshere's young Gunners were due to play the Seagulls at the Amex Football Centre, with kick-off scheduled at midday. Wilshere named his starting XI at 11am, but fans started to get concerned when the game was delayed by 30 minutes.

Then, at just after midday, Arsenal confirmed the game was postponed. Rumours on social media claimed their team bus had ended up in Bournemouth - 95 miles away from the Amex Football Centre - but Mirror Football can confirm this didn't happen.

Arsenal's team bus departed from their London Colney training ground and took a wrong turn on the M25. Wilshere's side were nearly two hours away from Brighton by the time the mistake was rectified and wouldn't have made the game on time.

Wilshere, 31, was appointed as Arsenal's U18s manager in July 2022, having retired from playing a few days earlier. The former England international was one of the most exciting midfielders of his generation but called it a day following several major injuries.

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Wilshere has done well during his time in charge of Arsenal's U18s. The Gunners reached the final of last season's FA Youth Cup - the most prestigious youth competition in English football - but were hammered 5-1 by West Ham at the Emirates.

"The boys have been exceptional," said Wilshere after Arsenal's pummelling. "I said that to them after. Yes, there are big lessons for the boys tonight - and it’s important that they take them - but they should be proud of themselves as well.

"They’ve given me, the staff, themselves some unbelievable memories, some moments in football that don’t happen all the time. When they happen, you have to take them in because you have moments like this in football where it’s devastating."

Arsenal lost last season's FA Youth Cup final to West Ham (Getty Images)

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Yet reaching the FA Youth Cup final was still a big achievement for Wilshere, who won that competition during his time as a player. His coaching success hasn't gone unnoticed, with Major League Soccer side Colorado Rapids showing an interest.

Wilshere held talks with Colorado last month over their manager's position, which is still vacant. Yet the ex-midfielder remains in charge of Arsenal's U18s for now.

Wilshere discussed his managerial aims during an interview with the Evening Standard last year. He said: "I didn’t ever reach my full potential as a player - and everyone knows that. I don’t think I will ever accept it until I’ve reached that as a coach. It’s a difficult thing to accept and that’s why I still have a big, burning desire in me to be successful in the game.

"I just feel like there’s something still in me that wants to get to a high level. And that probably won’t ever be as a player again. So if I can do that as a coach, why not?"

Tom Blow