Wilshere Likens Pellegrini To Wenger

By Joshua Walters

Jack Wilshere has compared West Ham boss, Manuel Pellegrini, to former Arsenal manager, Arsene Wenger, and says the two trainers apply the same football philosophy.

Wilshere progressed through the Arsenal academy, made his senior debut under Arsene Wenger in 2008 and left the Emirates to West Ham in 2018, having made 125 appearances and scored seven goals.

The English international was a fan favourite when he crossed carpet to the fellow London-based club, and he tells BT Sports he was enticed by the coaching philosophy of the Hammers boss which he found to be identical to Wenger’s.

"I spoke with [Pellegrini] and he was a big influence, it was a big reason – wanting to be part of the way he wanted to play football."

"[His style] is similar [to Wenger's] because they both want the ball and they both want to win the ball back high and press, and when they get the ball back they want to play football and open teams up."

"Some things are different, but I guess the way both managers want to play on the front foot with the ball is quite similar.”