I think Ceballos will be used as a number 8 much more often than he is at 10.
I don't think you can overstate what a problem it is that Xhaka is our only receiver in midfield and he is so easily caught on the ball or forced sideways/backwards. It makes us vulnerable to a counter, boring to watch, slow in the build-up, easily contained and predictable, and puts pressure on the defenders, especially the fullbacks, to try and progress the play.
Ceballos, in his short debut the other day, showed 3 or 4 times how comfortable he is dropping deep to receive the ball and looking for forward passing options. Özil will benefit hugely if a link between the two can be forged. Even on his off days, the German is still one of the best there is at finding space, having a picture of what's ahead of him before the ball has even reached him, receiving on the half turn and then executing the perfect pass. Xhaka can find him through the lines, but only when he has time and isn't pressed, if Ceballos can sidestep challenges, disrupt the opposition, and then pick a pass; it's a big deal and will make a big difference. And it will be most noticed when we play good teams that try and take the game to us. It should help hugely away from home, too, where every two-bob team has no worries about tearing into us.
