Fans demand ‘Jack Wilshere OUT’ after Arsenal Under-18s suffer ’embarrassing’ 7-1 loss to Liverpool in FA Youth Cup
Jack Wilshere experienced a forgettable day as his Arsenal Under-18 squad suffered a 7-1 defeat against Liverpool in the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup.
The match replicated the senior team’s encounter in the FA Cup third round earlier in January, this time with Arsenal playing as the away team. However, the game took a downturn when Liverpool’s Lewis Koumas scored just ten minutes into the match.
Arsenal’s 16-year-old talent, Ethan Nwaneri, responded with a goal five minutes later, but Koumas quickly regained the lead for Liverpool. Trent Kone-Doherty extended Liverpool’s advantage four minutes afterward, securing a two-goal cushion.
In the 52nd minute, Kone-Doherty netted his second goal of the game, followed by a quick brace from 18-year-old Jayden Danns, making it 6-1.
Koumas completed his hat-trick two minutes before the end of regulation time, sealing a remarkable victory for Marc Bridge-Wilkinson’s team and securing their place in the fifth round.
Jack Wilshere, who took on the role of Arsenal U18 boss in July 2022, will undoubtedly be disappointed with the outcome.
As he aims to guide the young Gunners back to winning form, they are set to face Leicester on Saturday. Currently, they hold the fourth position in the U18 Premier League South, trailing league leaders Tottenham by six points.
Reacting to the result on X, formerly known as Twitter, one Arsenal fan said: “That’s a wild way to go out. Seeeeevvveeennn.”
A second joked: “Wilshere out lol.”
A third said: “I don’t want to hear Jack Wilshere shouts ever again.”
Another said: “Not a good day at the office for the youngsters.”
Liverpool’s next challenge in the upcoming round will be against either Swansea or Fulham.
Jack Wilshere, aged 32, led Arsenal U18 to the FA Youth Cup final in the previous season, where they suffered a 5-1 defeat to West Ham.
Despite this setback, Wilshere has continued to make strides in his coaching career.
In October, he was interviewed as one of the candidates for the managerial position at the Major League Soccer franchise, Colorado Rapids.
It’s worth noting that Arsenal’s last triumph in the FA Youth Cup dates back to 2009 when they secured victory over Liverpool with a 6-2 scoreline. At that time, the competition still followed a two-legged format.
Jack Wilshere, the former England international, played a pivotal role in the FA Youth Cup-winning team of 2009.
The victorious squad also featured notable players such as Francis Coquelin, Emmanuel Frimpong, Luke Ayling, Kyle Bartley, and Henri Lansbury.
Fans demand ‘Jack Wilshere OUT’ after Arsenal Under-18s suffer ’embarrassing’ 7-1 loss to Liverpool in FA Youth Cup