‘Watch out’: Michael Owen says Arsenal 29-year-old has made ‘huge jump’ this season

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Michael Owen has praised Granit Xhaka for the ‘huge jump’ he has made to his attacking numbers for Arsenal this season.

The 29-year-old has two assists and one goal from his opening six Premier League matches – already matching his tally from the previous campaign.

With Mikel Arteta bringing the expert technician Oleksandr Zinchenko to the Emirates this summer, it has allowed Xhaka to push forward because the former Manchester City star can tuck into the middle of the park from his left-back spot.

As a result, Xhaka has been marauding forward a lot more, being more active in the penalty area and now hoping to boost his attacking numbers even further this season.

That was highlighted by former England striker Owen, who thinks teams need to ‘watch out’ because he is providing extra attacking spice to proceedings in north London, as he told Premier League Productions.

“I was listening to him a while back and he said he is ‘playing with more freedom now’,” said Owen. “This season, he has been powering forward and getting involved in much more attacking areas.

“The touches in the opponent’s box this season compared to last season, it’s a huge jump. Chances created, another huge jump and the shots as well. All of those point to the fact that he is getting into more forward positions.

“I never that I would say it, but you might have to watch out.”

BIG FEW WEEKS FOR ARSENAL

Arsenal have now tasted their first defeat of the season and it’s a big test for the players in how they react ahead of a crucial few weeks.

This is where the fixture list piles up, something these players weren’t used to last season, and Arteta’s squad, its depth, in particular, is going to be tested.

The Gunners travel to Xhaka’s homeland of Switzerland on Thursday night for their opening Europa League tie against FC Zurich.

With Everton coming up at the weekend, added with injuries to Thomas Partey and Mohamed Elneny, it wouldn’t be a surprise if Xhaka isn’t risked for his side’s midweek game.