Martin Keown: Kante deserves to be named POTY

Arsenal Legend Martin Keown is soliciting for N'Golo Kante to be named Player of The Year in the English Premier League. Keown noted that though many will vote for Eden Hazard but he believes that Kante is the right man fot the accolade, highlighting his influence in Central midfielder as the major reason Chelsea are moving closer to their second league title in 3 years.

He said: “If you’re looking at sheer brilliance, and a player who is touching the quality of Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and Neymar, then it’s Hazard, because he is magic.

“But if you want to reward someone who has been the best player for the last two seasons, it is N’Golo Kante.

“He’d be my choice. He’s putting out fires. Kante has revolutionised what we expect from midfield players. Football is a numbers game, and with his mobility, he changes the numbers all over the pitch.

Keown praised Kante describing him as a player capable of covering two midfielders in a team: “Kante means you’ve almost got 12 players on the pitch. A lot of teams are now playing with three at the back.

“Antonio Conte has come in and changed things, but his system has been altered by Kante. It used to be Daniele De Rossi that sat deep, but now he uses two.

“It lets Hazard and Pedro provide more flair. A lot will try and copy the system, but without Kante and Nemanja Matic, it’s almost impossible.

“He allows you to be able to play that way. He provides balance in every area. Kante is almost two players in one.”