This archive report was first published on 16 May 2020.
Former Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere has spoken out about his departure from the club in 2018, revealing that manager Unai Emery played a significant role in his decision to leave.
Wilshere, who made 198 appearances for the Gunners over 10 years, left the club in July 2018 to join West Ham on a three-year deal. In an interview with Arsenal's Lockdown podcast, Wilshere explained that he was in talks with the club regarding a new contract when Arsene Wenger was still in charge, but the situation changed after Wenger's departure.
‘I got offered a new deal and I wasn’t really happy with it, but Arsene was doing everything he could for me,’ Wilshere said. ‘We got to a point where I’d almost agreed it then the news came that Arsene was leaving, and I just thought, “How can I sign a new deal that is based on appearances with a manager who I don’t know?”’
Wilshere then met with Emery, who advised him to leave the club, stating that he was not in his starting XI and that the team was planning to buy a midfielder, Lucas Torreira. Wilshere has since made just 16 appearances for West Ham, struggling with injury woes.
Wilshere also revealed that he had some positional disagreements with Wenger, particularly after starring for England as a deeper-lying No.6. ‘We disagreed on that [positions] a few times. But we laughed about it as well,’ Wilshere added.
