Oxford united FC
Ex-Arsenal Ramsey and Wilshere to battle in League One
The Welshman was announced yesterday as the new permanent head coach of Oxford United following the sacking of Matt Bloomfield, while ex-Premier League midfielder Wilshere is currently in charge of Luton Town, also in League One.
The two have met in the dugout once before, on the last day of the 2024/25 Championship season, when Wilshere’s Norwich City beat Ramsey’s Cardiff City 4-2.
Both were in interim positions at the time, with Wilshere completing two competitive games in charge to Ramsey’s three.
Wilshere, who retired from football in 2022 at the age of 30, is now heading into his first full season with Luton.
After being hired to his permanent managerial job in October, he guided the club to seventh in League One, one point off the play-off spots.
He also won the Vertu Trophy after beating Stockport County 3-1 in the final.
Ramsey, who left boyhood club Cardiff in June 2025 after they finished bottom of the Championship, retired from professional football in April at the age of 35, and is now also in his first permanent role.
Asked at his inaugural U’s press conference if he had received any communication from Wilshere upon his appointment, Ramsey replied: “No, I’m still waiting for that message!
“No, Jack obviously is a great friend and teammate of mine back in the day, so it’ll be good and interesting to come up against him later on in the season.”
The two first played together as teenagers in September 2008, when they made their league debuts for Arsenal two minutes apart in a victory over Blackburn Rovers.
Their last game as teammates was defeat against Atletico Madrid in the 2017/18 Europa League semi-final.
READ MORE: Oxford United CEO on shock timing of Bloomfield sacking
READ MORE: Ex-Arsenal Aaron Ramsey’s first words as Oxford United manager
In the intervening decade, they made 101 appearances playing together, winning consecutive FA Cup finals in 2014 and 2015.
Both coaches had injury-hit playing careers, with Ramsey suffering a broken leg in 2010, as well as recurrent hamstring issues later on which saw him average just 11 full games per season in the seven seasons following departure from Arsenal in summer 2019.
Wilshere, meanwhile, suffered a series of ankle problems throughout his career, beginning with a stress fracture in a pre-season friendly in 2011, which eventually led to his early retirement.
The two men have shown early promise as coaches similar to their playing careers: Wilshere’s deliverance of silverware at Luton represents the club’s first trophy since winning League One in 2018/19.
Ramsey, meanwhile, has been tipped as a future Wales manager by current national head coach Craig Bellamy.
The summer-long saga has felt more like a decade and surely head coach Aaron Ramsey has felt the same after enduring the ritual of being asked about Mills’ status on a weekly basis.
After missing the U’s first pre-season friendly, the winger scored in the second, a 2-1 win over Barnet, and featured in the following couple.
He then missed out in the first competitive game of the season, a 2-0 Carabao Cup defeat at Leyton Orient, before a move to PNE was confirmed by Ramsey ahead of the League One opening day, but not until January.
Mills messaged his boss requesting not to play in the 2-2 opening day home draw with MK Dons before coming off the bench to assist Gatlin O’Donkor in the Yellows’ 2-1 win at Stevenage.
That would prove to be the 22-year-old’s final display in a United shirt, the young attacker showing little enthusiasm upon Oxford taking the lead in Hertfordshire, hinting that his head had certainly been turned.
“I’ve known about it all summer and from the start I’ve wanted to be here, wanted to get going as a Preston player and now it is official.”
Mills’ first words as a Lilywhites player say it all.
Considering the former Everton man has never scored more than three goals in a senior season, my personal opinion was that a January move would be ideal for all parties.
In an ideal world, Oxford would keep a star player for six months, Mills could get his numbers up as a standout player in a weaker league and PNE would get an in-form winger through the doors in the new year.
READ MORE: Ramsey says Mills departure ‘best solution’ for Oxford United
READ MORE: Ex-Oxford United goalkeeper Jacob Knightbridge joins Tottenham Hotspur
But patience is a rare virtue in football these days and off goes the winger to Lancashire.
So, what now for United?
The U’s are without a recognised right-sided midfielder – young Aidan Elliott-Wheeler could be considered – and remain under a temporary transfer embargo.
Aidomo Emakhu has played on the right so far this season and has offered some outlet but he does look much more comfortable in his more natural position on the right.
Then there is 17-year-old Mo Missanga, a youngster who helped change the tide on the opening day against MK Dons and who has excited supporters and the U’s boss alike.
Ramsey has hinted that the Yellows are searching for solutions, and it is understood that a loan transfer where Oxford do not pay any share of the player’s wages could be a way of bringing a player in before Tuesday’s deadline.
Given the circumstances, it will be difficult to replace the ability of Mills but there is certainly a sense of relief that this saga is over.
Now it is time to focus on the football and maintain a strong league position heading into January.
Oxford United have signed Wales international Kai Andrews on loan from Premier League side Coventry City until January.
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Oxford United head coach Aaron Ramsey has insisted that Stanley Mills’ departure for Preston North End was ‘the best decision’.
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