David Seaman urges Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka to stay calm during crunch North London derby

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.

Granit Xhaka has been warned to keep calm when he plays Tottenham on Saturday

The Arsenal midfielder has been shown four Premier League red cards in his career so far

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.

Xhaka has managed to turn around his Arsenal career after previously wanting away

The former Arsenal captain has previously struggled to remain calm in top-flight matches

‘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 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.

Legendary Gunners and England goalkeeper David Seaman has urged Xhaka to keep his head

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 unbeaten Premier League teams this season.