Arsenal legend David Seaman has urged Gunners hothead Granit Xhaka to keep his cool in Saturday’s North London derby as Antonio Conte’s unbeaten Spurs side travel to the Emirates.
Xhaka has transformed his Arsenal career from walking off the pitch to boos and targeting an exit away from the club to establishing himself as one of Mikel Arteta’s most consistent performers this season.
The Switzerland midfielder was previously stripped of the team captaincy but is recognised as one of the side’s core leaders, but many are still wary of his previously reckless nature.
Xhaka, 30, is one of the Premier League’s most ill-disciplined players, racking up 54 yellow cards and 4 red cards in 195 top-flight appearances for the North London outfit.
On the eve of Saturday’s much-awaited derby encounter, former Gunners keeper Seaman urged Xhaka to remain calm up against Spurs’ energetic midfield.
‘When you talk about those two in midfield for Spurs [Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg and Rodrigo Bentancur], I’m thinking, ‘Xhaka, keep your head’,’ he told his podcast Seaman Says.
‘Keep your head, because these are the sort of games where he can get into trouble.’
Xhaka has featured in 13 North London derby’s and has endured mixed fortunes against Arsenal’s biggest rivals who have caught them up in recent years.
The combative midfielder has won four, drawn three, and lost six times against Spurs while wearing an Arsenal shirt while additionally receiving seven yellow cards in the fixture.
Saturday’s early kick-off is expected to be one of the most closely-fought derby matches in recent years as both team’s seek to keep their Premier League title hopes alive.
Mikel Arteta’s Gunners have lost just once this season – a 3-1 away defeat to Man United – and have been the Premier League’s early pacesetters, winning six games and scoring 17 goals in the process.
In comparison Tottenham appear to have turned a new leaf under the expert stewardship and guidance of Antonio Conte with Spurs and Man City the only remaining Premier League teams this season.