From Arsenal’s problem to man who could ruin Harry Kane dream, Granit Xhaka’s incredible transformation is complete

It turns out that Granit Xhaka’s miraculous turnaround at Arsenal was just part one of an astonishing story.

The midfielder, who infamously flipped off the Emirates crowd and threw his captain’s armband in the bin before becoming a club favourite, has continued his rise to prominence in incredible style.

Returning to the Bundesliga with a hero of his in Xabi Alonso always seemed like a good fit, but the results have been astounding.

Now the most important player in Bayer Leverkusen’s shock title charge, the biggest surprise is that both Mikel Arteta and Alonso saw it coming when the world had written him off.

“It was a privilege for me to have Mikel first, and now Xabi,” Xhaka explained. “First of all Xabi was an amazing player and for me a midfielder, what Xabi shows me in the small details on the pitch, it’s something special.

“A lot of people asked me ‘why are you going to Germany? It's a step back’ but for me it’s not a step back it’s a step forward. It’s been very good for the team but me as a person too.

“I learn from Xabi every day. It's a dream to play for him. He was world class in the position, he still gives me things to learn from.

«We see him every day, he runs almost more than us in training. Xabi transmits his hunger and desire to win. And, of course, we also try to show that we want the same thing. As long as he’s here, we'll have fun.”

Liverpool-linked Alonso is understandably taking the headlines, but when it comes to the men on the pitch, no one’s in doubt that it will be Xhaka who’s named the Bundesliga Player of the Season if Leverkusen go the distance.

First and foremost, that would be thanks to his step up tactically. Xhaka has quite literally become an Alonso regen, quarterbacking Leverkusen’s fullback