Jack Wilshere slammed by Arsenal fans as Gunners U18s drubbed 7-1 by Liverpool
Jack Wilshere proved no Arsenal hero is above criticism after his under-18s side suffered a hammering at the hands of Liverpool.
Wilshere, a fan favourite in his playing days, has impressed following his move into coaching. He led the young Gunners to the final of last season's FA Youth Cup, but this season's run has ended much earlier after a 7-1 loss to the Reds.
Arsenal under-18s' league form this term has been solid, with just two defeats from 11 matches and boasting one of the better defensive records in the Under-18 Premier League. Liverpool are a team with firepower, though, and they followed their 32 goals in 12 league games with seven in 90 minutes on Saturday.
Lewis Koumas, son of former Wales international Jason, scored a hat-trick for Liverpool. Trent Kone-Doherty and Jayden Danns each bagged a brace, with Arsenal's goal coming through Ethan Nwaneri.
"Liverpool knocked us out of the FA cup twice? Lmao," wrote one fan, making reference to the senior side's FA Cup exit at the start of January. On that occasion, Mikel Arteta's team failed to take their chances and were punished by two late Liverpool goals.
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Others opted to take aim at the manager. "I don’t want to hear Jack Wilshere shouts ever again," was one verdict, while another said "Jack Wilshere it is time to go".
Along with the questions asked of Wilshere, a number of fans took the result as proof the academy players aren't yet ready for regular first-team action. Goalscorer Nwaneri made his Premier League bow for Arsenal early in the 2022-23 season, while fellow starter Myles Lewis-Skelly has been an unused substitute this term for the first-team games against Brighton in the league and Lens in Europe.
How can Jack Wilshere and his squad bounce back? Have your say in the comments section
Arsenal's Under-18s won't be repeating their run to the 2023 FA Youth Cup final this time around (David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)Wilshere's team had won five in a row before facing Liverpool, but have been brought crashing down to earth. After the game, though, he was keen to put the result in perspective.
"It was a tough night, a real tough night," Wilshere said. Ultimately, I believe they were better than us, and that's the harsh reality. I need to review the match to pinpoint where and when they outperformed us because I feel, at times, we had decent spells in the game.
"We have to remember that we are in development football, and these players are not yet the finished product. They still have learning to do.
“However, my job is to lift them, regroup on Monday, and continue their development. We face Leicester on Saturday, followed by a quarter-final in the Premier League Cup against Manchester United the week after."
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