O'Leary backs Wilshere to break club record

Former Arsenal defender David O'Leary hopes that Jack Wilshere will someday break his record for making the most appearances for the Gunners.

O'Leary spent 18 years of his playing career at Arsenal and set the club record for the most appearances with 722 matches played for them.

The former Leeds United manager believes that it would be hard for modern footballers to break his record due to their frequent club changes, but hopes that Wilshere would be the one to accomplish it one day.

"I'd love to be proved wrong but I just can't see my record being beaten," he told Arsenal.com.

"It's a lot of games. When you look at the numbers I think we were averaging 50 games a season. I didn't think it was a big deal, that was what you had to do, you had to play two or three times a week.

"It's hard to see someone going past my appearances but records are there to be broken and if it is I would be delighted if it's someone like Jack, because then I will know that a tremendous player - who I am sure will improve and improve - played at Arsenal for a long time. And that can only benefit the Club."

Wilshere made his debut for the club in 2008 and has already made 97 appearances for the Gunners at 21 years of age.