‘A revelation’: Sky pundit says £100k-a-week Arsenal man has actually been Mikel Arteta’s best player this season

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Sky Sports pundit Paul Robinson says Arsenal midfielder Granit Xhaka has actually been Mikel Arteta’s best player this season.

Xhaka was on the scoresheet once again yesterday as he smashed home Arsenal’s opener against Southampton.

The £100,000-a-week man put in yet another commanding display from central midfield, despite the Gunners being held to a 1-1 draw at St Mary’s.

Arteta’s men currently sit top of the Premier League and have a host of players who have really caught the eye this season.

Gabriel Jesus has transformed Arsenal’s attack, while Gabriel Martinelli has terrorised opposition defences with his direct running. William Saliba and Ben White have also been real standout performers in a solid backline.

But former Tottenham goalkeeper Paul Robinson believes Xhaka has been the best player out of the entire Arsenal squad this season.

Xhaka been Arsenal’s best player

Robinson told Sky Sports News: “Mikel Arteta’s found his position. Yes, he’s been asked to do a lot more defensive duties in previous years.

“This year, he’s kind of had the shackles taken off him a little bit with Thomas Partey, he knows he’s got that safety blanket around him and he’s actually been allowed to push on more.

“What we’ve seen this season from Arsenal is when [Oleksandr] Zinchenko plays and [Takehiro] Tomiyasu plays at left-back, in possession he allows the left-back to drift into midfield, almost like creating a new role. So that bolsters the midfield as well which then gives Xhaka the licence to go forward.

“I think he’s been a revelation this year, I really do. Arsenal have got a lot of good players but he’s arguably their best player this year.”

This is very high praise for Xhaka, especially when you consider how good some of Arsenal’s other players have been this season.

The 30-year-old has completely turned his fortunes around in north London and has been brilliant alongside Thomas Partey.

The Switzerland international has now registered four goals and three assists in just 15 appearances from central midfield.

He’s clearly benefiting massively from a slightly new role in Arteta’s side and the Gunners boss will be hoping he can continue his excellent form.