MIDFIELD PAIR NOT ALIKE...

ARSENE WENGER insists Granit Xhaka and N’Golo Kante are “different types of players”, so comparing them is pointless.

Xhaka and Kante have had contrasting fortunes this season since big-money summer moves to Arsenal and Chelsea respectively.

Wenger has come in for criticism for missing out on £30million countryman Kante (above right) and paying £5m more for Xhaka (above left).

Yet it is Kante who has looked the more expensive signing and is inspiring his side to the title. But Wenger said: “They are different types of players.

“Xhaka is more in the distribution of the pass through the lines, and Kante is more a ball winner with the 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 Moenchengladbach, haven’t been helped by poor discipline.

The Swiss had a reputation for ill-discipline in Germany and has picked up eight yellows and two reds for Arsenal this season, plus another caution and dismissal for Switzerland.

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

But Wenger insists Xhaka is being singled out by referees. The manager added: “He is now in a position where on the first foul he gets a yellow card. For example, on Saturday (against Lincoln in the FA Cup) – first foul, soft yellow card.

“So he is a victim a little bit of his reputation (from before in Germany). You see tackles from players that are much worse than what he did, but they don’t even get a yellow card.”