Another international break, another meltdown among the Arsenal fanbase. As news emerged of Thomas Partey's withdrawal from the Ghana squad due to a suspected knee injury, supporters scrambled frantically to their keyboards to vent frustration at the Gunners' decision to even allow one of their most important players to go away with his country at all. In reality though, their biggest concern should have been someone starring hundreds of miles away.
Make no mistake, Partey is crucial to what Arsenal have evolved into under Mikel Arteta. His combination of press resistance, passing quality and defensive awareness are a rare blend among any player in world football and should he be absent for Saturday's North London Derby, it would be a massive blow.
But there is a presence in this table-topping Gunners side who has arguably established himself as a more important figure in the midfield. That man is Granit Xhaka.
