Martin Keown believes Arsenal icon Patrick Vieira is a better all-round midfielder than Chelsea summer signing N’Golo Kante.
The France international is a contender for the PFA player of the season award after revolutionising Chelsea following his £34m move to west London from defending Premier League champions Leicester City last summer.
Kante won the the Premier League title with Leicester City in his first campaign in England which earned the defensive midfielder his big-money switch to Stamford Bridge.
Chelsea finished in tenth place last term but the Blues are on course to win a second Premier League crown in three seasons under new manager Antonio Conte.
Vieira helped Arsenal to win three Premier League titles and four FA Cups during his decorated career at the north London side under Arsene Wenger.
Keown played alongside Vieira at Arsenal and the ex-defender still rates the French legend as a better all-round player than Kante despite the Chelsea star’s impressive season.
“How can I choose between the two [Kante and Vieira]? They are very different players,” Keown told The Daily Mail.
“Patrick Vieira is the greatest all-round midfielder I have ever seen. Vieira would demand he got the ball.
“While Kante’s passing has improved, Cesc Fabregas remains the better creative player in that Chelsea team.
“Patrick could create, tackle, get around the pitch and score goals.
“But in terms of his specific job, Kante has revolutionised the central midfield role. He has ripped up the coaching manual on what you expect from midfield players.
“It is incredible how he freewheels around the pitch. Every tackle is like a dagger in the heart of the opposition. He goes round putting out fires all over the pitch.”
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