Jack Wilshere drew comparisons to Thomas Tuchel and Antonio Conte after getting involved in a handshake row after Luton’s win over Barnsley on Tuesday night.

Tuchel and Conte, then managers of Chelsea and Tottenham respectively, clashed after a Premier League fixture four years ago at Stamford Bridge when they shook hands at the final whistle and refused to loosen their grip.

Wilshere was caught in a similar situation with Barnsley manager Daniel Stendel after his side’s 2-1 win at Kenilworth Road.

The former Arsenal midfielder was unhappy with Stendel’s handshake and also pointed his finger in the face of the German coach with words exchanged between the pair and wider coaching teams.

Mads Andersen and Nahki Wells scored the goals for Wilshere’s team and Makenzie Kirk scored for Barnsley. But the match ended with tempers frayed after Barnsley forward Amani Richards thought he had won a penalty before being booked for diving.

Wilshere and Stendel were then involved in their heated exchange in the technical area before being pulled apart.

“I’ve got massive respect for them [Barnsley] and what they’re trying to do. I know they haven’t got the results, but I can see what they’re trying to do,” said Wilshere. “They’re a tough team to play against. They’ve got some good players.

“And we’ve got the win at the end. It gets a little bit heated, but [we] shake hands at the end and it moves on.”

Neither manager was punished for the clash in stark contrast to Tuchel and Conte, who both received red cards and fines after their clash in 2022. 

Tuchel was upset at Conte not looking at him when they shook hands and the pair held onto each other as they faced off before staff and players separated the German and Italian coaches.

“It was hot from the temperature, hot between the benches, hot on the field and hot between the spectators – everything you want and hope for in a match like this early in the season,” said Tuchel at the time.