05 January 2023 , 11:07
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Jack Wilshere has hailed his former teammate Cesc Fabregas as the “best football brain I know” after he visited the Arsenal training ground.
Fabregas returned to London Colney this week to link up with Wilshere and share his knowledge with the Arsenal under-18 side. Wilshere became manager of the Gunners youth side in the summer after announcing his retirement from playing, aged 30.
His ex-Arsenal midfield partner Fabregas is still playing aged 35 for Serie B side Como, but is currently enjoying a mid-season break. That has allowed him time to visit his old club and reconnect with Wilshere, who has been blown away by his advice.
“Learning from the best football brain I know!” he wrote on Instagram alongside a picture of him with Fabregas on the training pitch.
“As a player I wish I had the chance to play with this guy for longer but having the chance to pick his brain about certain situations and how he thinks about the game is invaluable. Thank you @cescf4bregas.”
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Fabregas replied: “Thanks for helping me out man. You are the best.”
Jack Wilshere is in his first season as Arsenal U18 head coach (Arsenal FC via Getty Images)The former Spain international spent a few days working with Wilshere and the under-18 side. While he is still focused on playing for Como, who also have the backing of Dennis Wise and Thierry Henry, he has been open about his managerial ambitions.
Speaking to Sky Sports News in the summer, he said: "When I become a coach, as I have said, the Premier League has been my league, it is where I played my best football, my best years, where people respect me so much.
"I feel really loved in England and, in the future, I would love [to coach there], why not? I'd love to [be a Premier League manager], 100 per cent. If I can look at a target in some years to come, then definitely, this is in my head."
Wilshere’s under-18 side have struggled so far this season, winning just two of their opening nine matches. However, they are through to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup after beating Millwall 6-0 in their most recent game.
Former Arsenal defender Per Mertesacker is in charge of overseeing Arsenal academy football. He explained the appointment of Wilshere in the summer.
“Seeing him coach on a daily basis with us in the academy gave us a lot of confidence,” Mertesacker told the club website. “He has shown real consistency in his behaviours, training in the morning with the first-team, probably being knackered, and then being able to assist the under-17s and lead a few coaching sessions in the evening.”