TBR View: Granit Xhaka proving himself unsung Arsenal hero under Mikel Arteta

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Arsenal will face Burnley this weekend with confidence sky-high after wins over Benfica and Leicester and in midfielder Granit Xhaka an unsung hero is starting to emerge.

The Gunners have seemingly overcome a mid-season blip and now look to be an upward curve under Mikel Arteta’s management.

The likes of Bukayo Saka, Emile Smith Rowe and Gabriel have come in for some praise but lots of supporters simply can’t bring themselves to give credit to Xhaka.

In November 2019, the midfielder endured a torrid time of things after he was jeered off the pitch by his own supporters and subsequently stripped of the captaincy by Unai Emery.

Xhaka has revived himself under Arteta though and on the basis of the 2020/21 campaign, he deserves immense credit.

A quick look at the statistics from Sunday’s stunning win at Leicester highlight just how important he is to the Arsenal team.

According to Who Scored, the 28-year-old made three interceptions and kept things ticking along with a pass success ratio of 87%.

Xhaka’s form has been good throughout the campaign and Thomas Partey will face a fight on his hands to get his place back.

The midfielder checked in at Arsenal for £35 million back in 2016 from Borussia Monchengladbach. He has made 206 appearances for the Gunners, scoring 13 goals and claiming 20 assists.

Xhaka earns £100,000-a-week at the Emirates Stadium and perhaps isn’t one of the most fashionable players in the eyes of supporters.

The statistics showcase that he’s enjoying a decent run in the team, however, and he’s proved himself all over again during 2020/21.

A challenge for Xhaka now is to keep up his current level of consistency and keep his place in the team.