Arsenal fans are this year being treated to a new Granit Xhaka.
Gunners boss Mikel Arteta has both late last season and in the early weeks of this campaign, deployed the Swiss midfielder in a more advanced role, while the likes of Thomas Partey or Mohamed Elneny take up the defensive duties.
Xhaka in March spoke to the club's official website about his new position in typical self-sacrificing style.
He said "It's a different position, I think it’s not my first different position in this club, I’ve played already many positions in this club!
"I’m enjoying it because I’m on the pitch, that’s the most important thing and after I try to help the team wherever the coach puts me and at the moment it’s working very well."
It's continued to work well. As the forward line of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and new signing Gabriel Jesus take much of the spotlight, it is the more attack-minded Xhaka who has quietly been one of the club's star performers.
In fact, Granit Xhaka has this season created 16 chances for his Arsenal team-mates, which is more than any other player.
Of those 16, 15 have come from open play. Two of those chances have resulted in assists, while Xhaka has contributed one goal of this own.
Granit Xhaka has created more chances for his team-mates than any other player in the Arsenal squad this season - 16, with 15 coming from open play.#Playmaker
— Orbinho (@Orbinho) September 10, 2022
Xhaka 2.0.
