Wilshere reflects on cup defeat

Arsenal under-18s head coach Jack Wilshere offered his reflections on a challenging night that saw the team face a heavy defeat and elimination from the FA Youth Cup against Liverpool.

Wilshere expressed, "It was a tough night, a real tough night. 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."

He emphasised the developmental nature of the team, stating, "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."

While acknowledging the need to learn from the defeat, Wilshere highlighted the importance of not letting it overshadow the positive work done throughout the season. He said, "We have to learn from it and communicate clearly to the players that there are lessons to be learned. However, we cannot allow it to overshadow all the good work we've done so far this season."

Reflecting on the unpredictable nature of academy football, Wilshere drew parallels with the previous year's Youth Cup journey. He said, "Last year, we were down a few times in the Youth Cup, but we found a way. Tonight, I thought we started the second half quite well, and at 1-1, we had a big chance to go 2-1 up. Those are pivotal moments."

Acknowledging Liverpool's threat in transition, Wilshere admitted that managing such moments was a key area of improvement. He stated, "We knew how dangerous Liverpool were in transition, and we didn't handle those moments well enough. That's something I have to analyse because I don't believe Liverpool are seven goals better than us, but tonight they were. That's the harsh reality, and we have to learn from it."

Despite the disappointment, Wilshere looked to the positive side, highlighting the fast-paced schedule ahead. He remarked, "We have a chance to respond next week, and that's the beautiful thing about football. It can be harsh, but it also allows you to bounce back.

“On Monday, we go again in training. On Tuesday, we have a game with the U17s, followed by another game on Saturday. It's a chance to put things right and learn from the areas where we fell short tonight."