New York, Aug. 19 -- As he bewildered two Burnley midfielders with a center-field pirouette, delivered a stream of dangerous set-pieces and generally controlled play, it was easy to see why there was so much hype around Dani Ceballos this time last year.

The playmaker was about to be an early-season regular for Real Madrid - at the time the European champion - and went on to play well enough to get a call-up to Spain's senior squad.

Just 22, he was one of the new hopes of Spanish soccer.

So why was it that, on Saturday, he was turning out in the red and white of Arsenal, making his full debut in the English Premier League and producing one of the best individual performances of the weekend in a 2-1 win over Burnley ?

The answer lies i...