Arsenal's New Forward Christos Tzolis Shines on Premier League Debut
Arsenal may yet dip back into the market for another forward before the window shuts on September 1, but Jamie Carragher is convinced they already have the answer to one of Mikel Arteta’s biggest attacking questions.
The former Liverpool defender believes new signing Christos Tzolis is tailor‑made for the Gunners’ problem position on the left of their front line – and says the Greek winger has wasted no time proving it.
Tzolis lit up Arsenal’s 3-0 win over Coventry City, capping his Premier League debut with a sharp assist for Bukayo Saka. Signed from Club Brugge in a £34m deal, he arrived as part of Arsenal’s push to defend their Premier League title and finally crack the Champions League. On this evidence, he plans to be central to both missions.
Many supporters initially assumed Tzolis had been brought in simply to replace Leandro Trossard, who departed for Besiktas after playing a key role in ending the club’s 20‑plus‑year wait for a league crown. The expectation was “like for like”. A neat swap. Nothing more.
Tzolis has torn up that script.
He impressed through pre-season and delivered in the Community Shield win over Manchester City, showing he is not in north London to pad out the squad. He is there to change games.
Arsenal have still been scouring the market for another left winger, with an ambitious move for Vinicius Junior floated before the Brazilian committed his future to Real Madrid with a new contract at the Bernabeu. Other names – Julian Alvarez, Bradley Barcola, Kenan Yildiz – have all been linked as the club looks for extra firepower in the final third.
Those targets would cost a fortune. Carragher wonders if Arsenal already have what they’re looking for.
Speaking on Sky Sports after the win over Coventry, he could barely hide his admiration. “Tzolis has been excellent on his Premier League debut. What a left winger Arsenal have got,” he said, summing up the impact of a player who has immediately changed the feel of that flank.
Arteta sounded just as enthused. The Arsenal manager highlighted not just the numbers, but the energy Tzolis has brought in only a few weeks at the club.
“I love that a player that has been with us just for a few weeks gets this kind of energy every time he's on the ball. I think he's earned it,” Arteta said. “I think the way he has performed in the last few games has been phenomenal. What he transmits as a player is so direct, so incisive, constantly. He wants to make things happen, and he has done an incredible variety of actions in the last 30 metres.
“I think it's up to him to make the right decisions. Even the spaces are sometimes really, really small. I'm very happy with him.
“It was great because the start is always tricky; we played a team that had a long time to prepare as well, and they are really good at what they do, but I've been really impressed with what I have seen so far.”
Arsenal will keep exploring options before deadline day. But with Carragher hailing a “what a left winger” find and Arteta already trusting Tzolis in key games, the real question now is not who else might arrive – it’s how far this fearless new wide man can push the champions this season.
