Sign up to FREE email alerts from Mirror - Arsenal FC Subscribe Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

Arsene Wenger insists Granit Xhaka and N’Golo Kante are different players amid comparisons between the two midfielders.

Xhaka and Kante have had contrasting fortunes this season since big money summer moves to the London.

Wenger has come in for criticism for missing out on his £30m countryman Kante – for the second time, he revealed last month – and paying £5m more for Xhaka.

Yet it is Kante who has looked the more expensive signing and is inspiring his side to the title.

It seems that every star showing from Chelsea’s Kante or underwhelming display from Xhaka is followed by comparisons of the two players by supporters of both clubs.

(Image: Paul Gilham) (Image: Clive Mason) (Image: PA)

But Wenger said: “They are different type of players. Xhaka is more in the distribution of the pass through the lines and Kante is more the ball winner with the real technique to steal the ball without making the foul.

“You should compare Kante with Francis Coquelin more than with Xhaka.”

Xhaka’s attempts to live up to his price tag since his move from Borussia Monchengladbach haven’t been helped by his poor disciplinary record.

Xhaka arrived in England with a reputation for ill-discipline having committed the third most fouls in Germany last year and being the second-most sent off player in Europe’s top five leagues in the previous three seasons.

Little has changed on that front with Xhaka picking up eight yellows and two reds for Arsenal this season plus another caution and dismissal for Switzerland.

Video Loading Video Unavailable Click to play Tap to play The video will start in 8 Cancel Play now

Xhaka has been booked in each of his last five games suggesting a previous warning from Wenger not to tackle and to stay on his feet went in one ear and out the other.

But Wenger insists Xhaka is being singled out by referees.

He said: “He is now in a position where on the first foul he gets a yellow card. For example on Saturday, first foul, soft yellow card.

“So he is a victim a little bit of his reputation. You see tackles of some players who are much worse than what he did who don’t even get a yellow card and he got a straight red and because he had a history of that in Germany.

“Before he was maybe before looking too much to impress a little but overall he has to stay on the ground because it is tackling that can get him sent off.

(Image: Reuters)

“When he defends well, staying on his feet he is a fair player.”

Wenger admits Xhaka, 24, still has to learn how to tackle without getting himself in trouble.

“It is the way he tackles,” Wenger said. “It is not to hurt people it is more the consequence of the fact that he doesn’t master well the technique of tackling.

“He has improved a lot since he has arrived but he still has to work on his one against one.

“Yes [even at his age], you can always improve.”