Rewind to September 2021. Norwich Metropolis’s record-signing Christos Tzolis arrived on the Emirates to face an Arsenal workforce backside of the Premier League desk on zero factors.
5 years later, after an ill-fated spell on the Canaries and a quick rise within the Belgian Professional League, Greek winger Tzolis now finds himself signing for the Premier League champions in a £34million deal from Membership Bruges. It’s a exceptional turnaround for each events.
The 24-year-old recorded a rare 40 objective contributions (17 objectives, 23 assists) in 36 league appearances final season, which landed him on Mikel Arteta’s radar.
It wasn’t an anomaly for Tzolis, both, having arrived in Belgium recent off a mortgage spell with Bundesliga 2 facet Fortuna Dusseldorf. There he mustered 34 objective contributions in 37 video games. His efficiency in Greece’s 2-1 Nations League victory over England at Wembley in October 2024 additionally caught the attention.
With Leandro Trossard having joined Besiktas, Tzolis is the like-for-like substitute. The comparisons between the pair are fascinating. They each performed within the Belgian Professional League, are proficient in entrance of objective and are pacy, adaptable attackers.
The Greek ahead is predominantly a winger like Trossard, however may also play as a No 10. Final summer season, for instance, Crystal Palace strongly thought-about Tzolis as a substitute for Eberechi Eze.
Christos Tzolis recorded a rare 40 objective contributions (17 objectives, 23 assists) in 36 league appearances final season for Membership Bruges
The 24-year-old is predominantly a winger however may also play as a No 10
Hayk Milkon, Membership Bruges’ assistant supervisor till February, beforehand stated: ‘He is capable of fulfil completely different roles. Coming from the left facet — giving him this area to begin broad after which discover the moments to get extra inside — that is the place he is at his strongest.
‘If he is assigned to play actually broad to get these one-on-ones, he is capable of do it. However he is at all times strongest the nearer he’s to the objective. Each time he is extra central, you possibly can anticipate him at any second to assault the area.’
One other similarity between Tzolis and Trossard is their availability. Trossard was solely injured for 4 matches in three-and-a-half-years at Arsenal, these video games coming in his last season in north London. Tzolis has an analogous file at Membership Bruges, lacking simply two matches attributable to harm throughout two seasons.
The brand new arrival is two-footed however likes to chop in from the left on to his proper foot the place he can present fizzing passes or make inroads to objective. His capturing effectivity, paired with an unpredictability of whether or not he hugs the touchline or cuts in, could cause havoc.
Targets from their wingers is an space wherein the Gunners are aiming to enhance. Final season, amongst Arsenal’s broad attackers, none reached double figures within the Premier League. One man who will likely be wanting over his shoulder is Gabriel Martinelli. The Brazilian scored only one league objective final time period. Arsenal’s left-wing spot is up for grabs.
Tzolis will want time to adapt to a brand new league, although, and therein lies comparisons to a different Arsenal ahead: Viktor Gyokeres. The Swede began slowly earlier than getting going within the second half of final season to spherical off the marketing campaign with 21 objectives throughout all competitions. Gyokeres had a failed spell in England with Brighton earlier than strikes to Coventry and Sporting Lisbon kickstarted his profession.
There’s some warning available round Tzolis’ output, in fact. The Belgium Professional League is the eighth strongest league on the earth, in accordance with Opta’s Energy Rankings — one place beneath the Championship.
And what’s additionally clear is that Tzolis has very massive boots to fill. Affectionately dubbed ‘Mr Clutch’ by supporters for his behavior of hanging in essential moments, Trossard leaves Arsenal as a cult hero who proved nice worth for his £27m transfer from Brighton in January 2023.
Tzolis has managed 9 objectives for Greece throughout his 34 appearances
He will likely be charged with filling the void left by Arsenal cult hero Leandro Trossard, who has joined Besiktas in Turkey
Throughout the 2025 calendar 12 months, Trossard registered extra objective contributions than any Arsenal participant, with 13 objectives and 12 assists. Mikel Merino adopted with 13 objectives and eight assists, whereas Declan Rice managed 9 objectives and 11 assists.
Trossard’s late winner towards West Ham in Might, a pivotal second in Arsenal turning into champions, underlines why he turned such a trusted determine below Arteta. Such an influence will likely be exhausting to duplicate at Premier League stage for Tzolis.
The approaching arrival of the Greek worldwide, who has 9 objectives in 34 appearances for his nation, doesn’t halt Arsenal’s plan to usher in extra attacking reinforcements this summer season. They keep an curiosity in Atletico Madrid’s Julian Alvarez. Aston Villa’s Morgan Rogers and Paris Saint-Germain’s Bradley Barcola are different potential targets.
The problem for Tzolis is proving his exceptional numbers in Belgium can translate to England. If he can try this, Arsenal could have discovered the long-term successor to considered one of Arteta’s most trusted attackers.
