Few fancied Arsenal to emerge as genuine title contenders this year - but even fewer people would have predicted Granit Xhaka to be leading the charge for Mikel Arteta's men.
The Swiss midfielder has well and truly come back from the brink during Arteta's premiership. And in recent weeks, Xhaka's game has evolved from chopping down opponents to slicing them open in a new advanced role in Arsenal's engine room.
While Martin Odegaard may officially don the captain's armband in north London, it is Xhaka who has led by example in standout results against Tottenham and Liverpool. However, there was a point towards the end of the first-half of Arsenal's 1-0 win over PSV Eindhoven where some of the bad habits that have plagued the 30-year-old threatened to resurface.
Just minutes after being scythed down on the edge of the PSV box, Xhaka was less than pleased by Bukayo Saka's decision to shoot at goal in a crowded penalty area rather than nudging the ball across the box to him. Barely 30 seconds later, Xhaka was in the book after clearing out Xavi Simons on the touchline.
As Xhaka took his medicine from the referee just yards away from the vociferous travelling support, this felt eerily similar to games where he had lost his cool in the past.
But if there are any doubts remaining over Xhaka's temperament and suitability to lead this Arsenal side, then the former Borussia Monchengladbach man surely put them to bed once and for all after the break.
As others around him began to get riled up, it was Xhaka who kept his head to drive Arsenal on in their bid to sustain their perfect Europa League record.
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The midfielder continued to marshal Arsenal's midfield, even when Odegaard was introduced on the hour by Arteta. And, fittingly, it was Xhaka who finally broke PSV's resistance in the 70th minute.
The Arsenal ace was the coolest man on the pitch to sweep home Takehiro Tomiyasu's pinpoint cutback to ensure the Gunners' 100 per cent record remained in tact against the Dutch giants.
Ironically, when Xhaka broke the deadlock, he was in a near identical position to where he was when Saka ignored him on the stroke of half-time. He certainly proved his point.
But while Xhaka's third goal of the season will pinch the headlines, the composure he showed to regroup from a frustrating first-half feels far more important. It's further evidence, if it were needed, that Xhaka has fully embraced the responsibility of leading this exciting, young Arsenal side.
His leadership credentials have never been in doubt - Arteta himself insisted that the midfielder was a "natural leader" shortly after his appointment.
Xhaka's performances this season have proven that Arteta was completely right about the midfielder; regardless of his previous indiscretions. Thursday night was the latest reminder of that - but it won't be the last.
