‘Keep your head!’ – David Seaman sends message to Granit Xhaka ahead of north London derby

Ex-Arsenal goalkeeper David Seaman has urged Granit Xhaka to ‘keep his head’ when the Gunners face Tottenham in Saturday’s north London derby.

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Xhaka has impressed for Arsenal this season and thanked supporters for a ‘very special day’ after he captained the side to a 3-0 win over Brentford last time out.

Arsenal fans serenaded him throughout and after the game, chanting his name – something that would have been unthinkable three years ago – when Xhaka threw his shirt on the ground after getting jeered off by his own supporters in a home game against Crystal Palace.

The Switzerland international was stripped of the captaincy after the incident, and his Arsenal career looked over until boss Mikel Arteta arrived and convinced the player to stay at the Emirates.

He caused further controversy at the end of last season when he appeared to take a dig at Arsenal’s young players – but Xhaka is now playing his best football much to the fans’ delight and was singled out for praise by Gunners legend Ian Wright following the win over Brentford before the international break.

However, the 30-year-old has a notorious reputation for picking up yellow and red cards and Seaman has urged Xhaka to keep calm against Tottenham.

‘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 Seaman Says.

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‘Keep your head, because these are the sort of games where he can get into trouble.’

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