Arsenal coach and former player Jack Wilshere has hit back at Jamie Carragher’s suggestion that Jurgen Klopp is a better manager than Arsene Wenger.
Speaking after Jurgen Klopp called time on his spell in management with Liverpool at the weekend, Jamie Carragher rustled some feathers by saying of the coach: “I would put him above (Arsene Wenger).”
Arsenal’s Jack Wilshere responded to the suggestion on Twitter, arguing that Carragher was simply showing his Liverpool bias.
“Klopp unbelievable how he transformed Liverpool but Arsene’s legacy in the Premier League is second to none,” Wilshere began.
“Sorry Jamie but you are miles off it, please don’t be so biased and respect Arsene and what he done over a longer period, including leading the only team in the Premier League to be invincible.
“Everyone appreciates what Pep has done and changed the way we see football in this country but don’t forget [Wenger] had a similar effect when he came in 96!
“You know that era better than me and witnessed it, so let’s not forget that!”
Wilshere spent 17 years with Arsenal as a player, progressing from the youth teams to the first team, and Wenger was in charge for that entire period.
When Wenger left in 2018, so did Wilshere, only returning once his playing career was finished.
Wilshere now coaches the Arsenal u18s, leading them to the FA Youth Cup final in 2022/23, and helping to oversee the development of some top talents like Ethan Nwaneri, Myles Lewis-Skelly, and Chido Martin Obi.
The former England international knows what it’s like to break through at Arsenal, and he has first-hand experience of the guidance Wenger gave him during that period.
Now he has the chance to pass on those lessons to the next generation.