Arsene Wenger has revealed the aspect of Granit Xhaka’s game which he is “concerned” about heading into this weekend’s Premier League affair.

The Gunners welcome local rivals Tottenham Hotspur to the Emirates stadium on Sunday in a fixture which has produced a few feisty incidents in the past.

If there is a man in the current Arsenal squad who brings back any memories of the aggressive conduct of former captain Patrick Vieira, it has to be Granit Xhaka perhaps.

The Switzerland international, who kept up a ‘hard man’ reputation in the Bundesliga after a few red cards for Borussia Mönchengladbach, recently returned from suspension following a controversial sending-off against Swansea City.

Replays showed Xhaka did not deserve to be given the early bath on that day but Wenger insists the 24-year-old’s tendency to commit silly fouls is something to warn him about ahead of the Spurs clash nonetheless.

“I have no specific idea what I will do [in terms of team selection] but am I bit concerned? Yes, of course,” the Arsenal manager said on Friday.

“Discipline is important because we want to be effective in all situations we face and in the derby it is important to keep control of your reaction and to have a strong discipline. It is part of the effectiveness in these games.

“Normally [Granit] is a very composed and calm guy, sometimes on the field he has a reaction that is a bit impulsive and he knows that. He has to work on that and keep control of his reactions in the game.”

Be the first to receive breaking news about Arsenal!