Arsenal coach Jack Wilshere says he is proud of his players after their thumping 5-1 defeat by West Ham in the FA Youth Cup final at Emirates stadium.
Omari Benjamin gave Arsenal an early lead before the floodgates opened for the visitors. George Earthy, Callum Marshall, Gideon Kodua, Kaelan Casey and Josh Briggs struck for the Irons in front of 34,124 fans at the Emirates.
I had a decision to make in the summer about whether I stopped my playing career and come and coach this team," Wilshere later said. I was still unsure even when I came in as you never know if it's the right decision until you're there experiencing it and living it.
The players have made it so that I made the right decision. They've given me feelings that I've never experienced in football before, and I'll always love them for that. I'm proud of them.
The overriding feeling is sadness because the boys deserve more than that, but that is part and parcel of development. Sometimes football is horrible, and they're devastated because they deserve more, but now you'll see the strong ones and who bounces back. I lost finals in my career and there's no worse feeling but now it's how you respond."
On the match, Wilshere said: We started really well, we went 1-0 up and I thought we were in control," he added. Then we gave the ball away and they punished us. Then they got another goal quickly and I think that affected us a little bit and we looked a little bit lost. You're thinking, 'OK, let's get to half-time at 2-1' but obviously the third goal happens and it's very difficult.
I said to the boys that we've been here before and I was confident we'd get chances. I think the scoreline flattered them a little bit because they scored two set pieces at the end when we were pushing."
Over 34,000 fans attended the night and Wilshere added: A massive thank you to the supporters and the club to make this night possible. There's no better experience for them - sometimes you have to remember there are 15 and 16-year-olds on the pitch and their dream is to play at the Emirates.
Now they're here and there's 34,000 watching and that can have an effect, but I don't think it did. It's a big lesson for the boys and they should take it."