Granit Xhaka has more than played his part in Arsenal's perfect start to the new season.
In fact, statistics show the Swizterland international is very much on course to register his best return in terms of goals and assists in the Premier League since the 2017/2018 campaign, having already matched his total from the last three seasons from games against Crystal Palace, Leicester City and Bournemouth this term.
Taking only the Premier League into account, in each of the 2019/20, 2020/21 and 2021/22 seasons, Xhaka only managed to find the back of the net for Arsenal once, and he weighed in with two assists. It's not taken him long to equal that record this season, and he's now one goal contribution away from breaking his own record.
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Breaking his duck with a crucial goal against the Foxes in the 4-2 win last weekend in the Gunners' second game of the season took Xhaka until gameweek 34 to open his account last term with that stunning long-range effort against Manchester United.
Meanwhile, after laying the ball on for William Saliba to score a wonderful goal against Bournemouth on Saturday evening, it's now back-to-back assists for the 29-year-old as he played the final pass before Gabriel Jesus broke the deadlock against Brendan Rodgers' side.
With 35 Premier League games remaining and playing in a much more advanced midfield role, the way Xhaka has started the season, it would be a surprise if he doesn't match or exceed his best-ever goal and assists contribution for Arsenal in the Premier League, which is eight (one goal, seven assists, as per transfermarkt) from the 2017/18 campaign.
Xhaka's quest to make an impact in the final third has coincided with a role change. Previously recognised as more of a deeper-lying midfielder tasked with dictating play and breaking up opposition attacks, he now often finds himself breaking into the box as one of two 'eights' alongside Thomas Partey and Martin Odegaard.
And the challenge for the midfielder is to get more goals whilst playing in this advanced position: "Granit is arriving in the box. He should have scored last week. He should have scored two today because he had another header," Mikel Arteta said after the win over Leicester.
"It's to play the role that we want. Granit has certain characteristics, and we can develop other characteristics because he has the ability to do it. When Fabio Vieira plays in that position, he'll have a different role because his qualities are different and Martin's as well. The team has to adapt, but the players as well have to have an eye for goal if they're playing there and the feeling that 'I want to score.'"
On his way to restoring his previously strained relationship with some Arsenal fans as his name was sung by the travelling support at the Vitality Stadium. Early signs indicate that Xhaka is on course to achieving his best season for the club on the pitch with regards to goal contributions.
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