Wenger: Arsenal’s ‘special’ Wilshere on course for 100 England caps

Arsene Wenger believes that Jack Wilshere could rack up 100 appearances for England if the Arsenal midfielder manages to steer clear of injury.

Wilshere, 21, has been one of Arsenal’s standout performers this season after making a successful return to action following the injury troubles that caused him to miss the whole of the 2011-12 campaign.

The midfielder already has seven England caps to his game and Gunners boss Wenger is backing him to make it a century of Three Lions appearances before hanging up his boots.

“When you look at Wilshere, who will deny that this guy will get 100 caps for England? Nobody, if he has no injury,” Wenger was quoted as saying by the Sunday Mirror.

“My worry is not to compare Wilshere with anyone else. My only worry when you are a footballer player of that talent is to become as good as you can become.

“That is the only thing that is of interest to me. I leave the comparisons to other people. My job is to get the best out of him.”

Wilshere, who signed a new long-term Arsenal contract back in December, has scored two goals and made five assists in his 25 appearances for the Gunners this season.

And Wenger admits that he has been thrilled with the impact he has made.

He added: “You tend to forget how old he is when you see him play. You never come out of a game and think ‘this guy is 21 years old’. He’s at a stage where the others have not started.

“You think of Jack [as] an established player in the Premier League and at international level, that is still something special.”