COMMENT: This is a bad idea. It really is. Jack Wilshere? Leaving Arsenal for the Colorado Rapids? This really is a bad idea...

Of course, it's complicated. But someone from Arsenal needs to knock this one on it's head. This is a bad move. For Wilshere. For the Rapids. But especially for Arsenal. As we say, it's complicated, with two clubs sharing the same owner. But someone at Arsenal's end needs to put their foot down and inject some reality into all parties concerned.

Wilshere has been brilliant for the Gunners. As an U18 coach, the feedback we've received has been outstanding. Jack is enthusiastic. Innovative. Inspiring. Hale End's youngsters love playing for him. They love being around him. And the feeling's mutual.

"It's given me back the real deep love for football," Wilshere stated last season, on the eve of the FA Youth Cup final - reached in his first attempt. "And I didn't know I'd lost it, to be honest."

Coaching these kids. Guiding them. It's offered Wilshere that enthusiasm for football he'd lost. But this goes beyond emotion. Wilshere's hiring by Per Mertesacker, the club's academy boss, has been good for the club. It's been Wilshere, with that "innovation" our source insists upon, who's brought through the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Kelly. Just as it was Wilshere who introduced Max Dowman, at 13, to U18s football a fortnight ago. It was a game won 4-0 against Southampton, with 15 year-old Dane Chidu Obi hitting a hat-trick.

"Debut opportunities aren't handed out lightly," Wilshere would say post-match, "and Max has demonstrated over the past few months that he deserves this chance."

Wilshere and his coaching is good for Arsenal. It's good for the academy. But especially, it's good for the first team. His recent retirement. His youth, at 31 years of age. And his profile. It's the perfect mix. And with the way he likes his team to play. With his penchant to create and innovate. Mertesacker's hire is proving a great success.

"He's been in our shoes, played in the Youth Cup and been exactly where we are right now," stated Bradley Ibrahim, now with Mehmet Ali's U21s, late last season. "He's able to give us information other people can't, so it's amazing having him around."

And Arsenalneed to keep Wilshere around. The former England midfielder is making a tangible difference to the club. You can see it. Measure it. Nwaneri is the poster boy. Lewis-Kelly is on track to be next. But there's others, like Ibrahim. And also Reuell Walters, another Wilshere protégé who had Oleks Zinchenko tipping as one for fans to watch just weeks ago. In barely a year, Wilshere has established himself as a vital cog in Arsenal's coaching and development structure. They surely can't let him go without a fight?

And what about this destination? At 31. With a year's coaching kids under his belt. Wilshere is ready to jack it in and take a chance on the 'States and Colorado? MLS? A competition which has seen peers. Ex-teammates. Come and go? Phil Neville. Thierry Henry. Wayne Rooney. All with far greater coaching experience than Wilshere. Yet, none of them found things comfortable working in MLS. What makes Wilshere so confident that he will do better?

Again, given his age and experience, it would be difficult enough for Wilshere to start a senior job in England. But in a foreign country? On another continent? And at the age of 31? How is this idea even being given an airing?

Look, this is no knock on Wilshere. As mentioned, there's a buzz about his coaching. About his approach to management. Indeed, it's no great surprise that he's impressed those in charge in Colorado. But as we consistently say in this column. Football is about patterns. And a coach with 12 months experience training a youth team. At the age of 31. Taking a top-flight post in a foreign country... it's all set up to fail. Football just doesn't work like that.

Sure, go through the interview process. Put together your presentation. Learn from it. But don't skip out on this job after a year. Don't jump into the deep end without even learning to paddle. Roy Hodgson. Neil Warnock. This career can give you everything - and over decades. Why the rush?

Jack Wilshere leaving Arsenal for the Rapids, as of today, is a bad idea. And that's for all three parties. Someone needs to step in and shut this one down.

COMMENT: This is a bad idea. It really is. Jack Wilshere? Leaving Arsenal for the Colorado Rapids? This really is a bad idea...

Of course, it's complicated. But someone from Arsenal needs to knock this one on it's head. This is a bad move. For Wilshere. For the Rapids. But especially for Arsenal. As we say, it's complicated, with two clubs sharing the same owner. But someone at Arsenal's end needs to put their foot down and inject some reality into all parties concerned.

Wilshere has been brilliant for the Gunners. As an U18 coach, the feedback we've received has been outstanding. Jack is enthusiastic. Innovative. Inspiring. Hale End's youngsters love playing for him. They love being around him. And the feeling's mutual.

"It's given me back the real deep love for football," Wilshere stated last season, on the eve of the FA Youth Cup final - reached in his first attempt. "And I didn't know I'd lost it, to be honest."

Coaching these kids. Guiding them. It's offered Wilshere that enthusiasm for football he'd lost. But this goes beyond emotion. Wilshere's hiring by Per Mertesacker, the club's academy boss, has been good for the club. It's been Wilshere, with that "innovation" our source insists upon, who's brought through the likes of Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Kelly. Just as it was Wilshere who introduced Max Dowman, at 13, to U18s football a fortnight ago. It was a game won 4-0 against Southampton, with 15 year-old Dane Chidu Obi hitting a hat-trick.

"Debut opportunities aren't handed out lightly," Wilshere would say post-match, "and Max has demonstrated over the past few months that he deserves this chance."

Wilshere and his coaching is good for Arsenal. It's good for the academy. But especially, it's good for the first team. His recent retirement. His youth, at 31 years of age. And his profile. It's the perfect mix. And with the way he likes his team to play. With his penchant to create and innovate. Mertesacker's hire is proving a great success.

"He's been in our shoes, played in the Youth Cup and been exactly where we are right now," stated Bradley Ibrahim, now with Mehmet Ali's U21s, late last season. "He's able to give us information other people can't, so it's amazing having him around."

And Arsenalneed to keep Wilshere around. The former England midfielder is making a tangible difference to the club. You can see it. Measure it. Nwaneri is the poster boy. Lewis-Kelly is on track to be next. But there's others, like Ibrahim. And also Reuell Walters, another Wilshere protégé who had Oleks Zinchenko tipping as one for fans to watch just weeks ago. In barely a year, Wilshere has established himself as a vital cog in Arsenal's coaching and development structure. They surely can't let him go without a fight?

And what about this destination? At 31. With a year's coaching kids under his belt. Wilshere is ready to jack it in and take a chance on the 'States and Colorado? MLS? A competition which has seen peers. Ex-teammates. Come and go? Phil Neville. Thierry Henry. Wayne Rooney. All with far greater coaching experience than Wilshere. Yet, none of them found things comfortable working in MLS. What makes Wilshere so confident that he will do better?

Again, given his age and experience, it would be difficult enough for Wilshere to start a senior job in England. But in a foreign country? On another continent? And at the age of 31? How is this idea even being given an airing?

Look, this is no knock on Wilshere. As mentioned, there's a buzz about his coaching. About his approach to management. Indeed, it's no great surprise that he's impressed those in charge in Colorado. But as we consistently say in this column. Football is about patterns. And a coach with 12 months experience training a youth team. At the age of 31. Taking a top-flight post in a foreign country... it's all set up to fail. Football just doesn't work like that.

Sure, go through the interview process. Put together your presentation. Learn from it. But don't skip out on this job after a year. Don't jump into the deep end without even learning to paddle. Roy Hodgson. Neil Warnock. This career can give you everything - and over decades. Why the rush?

Jack Wilshere leaving Arsenal for the Rapids, as of today, is a bad idea. And that's for all three parties. Someone needs to step in and shut this one down.