THERE’S barely a player in the Premier League that divides opinion quite like Granit Xhaka.
The Arsenal star – captain in the absence of Martin Odegaard at Brentford – blows hot and cold like no other.
Mikel Arteta has turned Granit Xhaka’s Arsenal career around this season
His ability to snatch defeat from the jaws of victory are beyond questionable, bordering on lunacy at times.
But when he’s on song, running the Gunners midfield, dictating the tone and shielding the Gunners’ young defence, he’s a joy to watch.
You’ll rarely see a better performance in the centre of the park than the one he puts in at the Beers on Sunday afternoon.
With Thomas Partey just returning from injury, and a young Fabio Vieira just in front, they needed their midfield general on form.
Boy did he deliver.
A lot has already been said about the tactical changes Mikel Arteta has made to this Arsenal team, especially with Oleksandr Zinchenko in the side.
The Swiss international covers the left-hand side of the pitch, allowing his Ukraine team-mate to get forward and move into midfield.
But with the ex-Manchester City full-back missing, Xhaka went back to what he does best, patrolling the midfield, sniffing danger.
He didn’t put a foot wrong, no lapse in concentration or rush of blood to the head, leading to an error in judgement.
One of Arsenal’s best bits of business this season could be keeping hold of Xhaka.
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The central midfield was wanted by Roma in the summer, and there was real talk of him leaving.
But he’s found a new lease of life under Arteta, and he could be the main man in getting them back into the Champions League.
