Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, who recently returned to the club and is currently training with the Gunners at the same time as studying for his coaching badges, has insisted he has no plans to retire from playing football just yet.
Wilshere has been without a club since leaving Bournemouth at the end of a short-term deal last season, having earlier seen his contract at West Ham terminated early due to what was termed as financial constraints after making only 19 appearances in just over two years in east London for the Hammers.
Jack Wilshere last played for Bournemouth and has since returned to Arsenal. | PHOTO: Courtesy |
The former England international has been training with Arsenal since late last month and has been doing extra work in a coaching capacity helping develop younger players under the eye of former Gunners teammate and current academy chief Per Mertesacker.
But giving up and retiring on his own football career is not something Wilshere, who was denied a summer move to Serie B side Como in summer due to restrictions on non-EU players, is prepared to do just yet.
“At the moment I am doing my coaching badges and Arsenal football club is helping me with them and I am helping some of the academy kids out as well,” the 29-year-old told the media on Thursday morning.
Jack Wilshere in a past Premier League match for Arsenal. | PHOTO: Courtesy |
“It is certainly something I enjoy and maybe something to look at in the future but for now I still want to play. I feel like I still have a lot to give and something to prove which is why I don’t want to finish playing now and start a coaching career just yet.
“Fitness-wise I am getting there and it’s great to be back training with good players and the quality is only going to be beneficial for me moving forward. I’m there [at Arsenal] until January and there’s no news on any clubs but hopefully something will come up then.”
Wilshere came up through Arsenal’s youth academy and impressed from an early age. He made his first-team debut in 2008, becoming Arsenal’s youngest ever league debutant at the age of 16 years, 256 days in 2008. In his career, Wilshere has made 182 Premier League appearances scoring eight goals and making 21 goal assists.
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