Jack Wilshere says his overriding feeling is “devastation” after Arsenal’s 5-1 FA Youth Cup final defeat to West Ham, but spoke of his pride in the “unbelievable memories” created en route to the showpiece.
Wilshere’s youngsters took an early lead in Tuesday night’s final in front of 34,000 fans at the Emirates, but were blown away by a ruthless Hammers showing as Kevin Keen’s side added a first Youth Cup crown since 1999 to the U18 Premier League South title they won earlier this season.
“It’s difficult at the moment to analyse the run,” Wilshere said. “I’ve done that as we’ve gone through the rounds and the boys have been exceptional. I said that to them after.
“Yes, there are big lessons for the boys tonight and it’s important that they take them but they should be proud of themselves as well. They’ve given me, the staff, themselves some unbelievable memories, some moments in football that don’t happen all the time. When they happen, you have to take them in because you have moments like this in football where it’s devastating.
“The boys are on the floor in the dressing room but that’s football and we have to learn from it.”
Wilshere had led the Gunners to the final in his first season in charge of the club’s U18 team, having returned to his boyhood club to start his coaching career after retiring from playing last summer.
Despite the defeat, a runners-up finish represents the club’s best Youth Cup performance since a team including the likes of Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe lost to Chelsea in 2018.
“It’s difficult to analyse that right now because my overriding feeling is devastation, really,” Wilshere said, when asked about his own personal development as a coach this season.
“Not really for myself - a little bit for myself - but more for the boys because I felt like they’ve been so good and then when you play in a final and you lose 5-1 and it’s at home it can affect you. It looks bad, right?”
