Arsenal executives have praised their summer signing Christos Tzolis in talks with his former club, highlighting the winger's fast start in north London. The £34 million arrival from Club Brugge has quickly become a key figure for Mikel Arteta's team, which sits second in the Premier League with a perfect record of three wins from three games.
Club president Bart Verhaeghe revealed the conversation took place at the recent Champions League draw. "At the Champions League draw, I saw people from Arsenal and they showed a tremendous amount of respect," Verhaeghe told the Daily Mirror. "‘What a player you’ve delivered’, they told me." The Gunners' strong start to the campaign, with six goals scored and only one conceded, has been bolstered by Tzolis's seamless integration.
How has Tzolis performed for Arsenal?
Christos Tzolis joined Arsenal and went straight into the starting lineup. He featured in the Community Shield victory and was among the team's best performers during pre-season. The Greek international's 43 goals across two seasons in Belgium convinced Arteta to pick him ahead of other attacking options like Eberechi Eze and Noni Madueke. The manager has been impressed. "He’s come into the team and really organically he’s fitted in," Arteta said of Tzolis afterwards. "He’s a really intelligent boy, and he has a massive quality." Arteta added that the player shows composure in the final third to pick out passes or finish chances.
His immediate role is even more significant given the summer departure of Gabriel Martinelli. Arsenal's attacking depth can be viewed on the club's official squad page.
What was Tzolis's path to Arsenal?
Before his prolific spell at Club Brugge, Christos Tzolis had a challenging stint in English football. He previously played for Norwich City during their relegation from the Premier League to the Championship. Following that, he had successive loan spells away from Carrow Road before securing a permanent move to Belgium. Club Brugge's model, as explained by Verhaeghe, focuses on developing players and making them attractive to elite clubs. This strategy has seen them sell not only to Arsenal but also to clubs like Inter Milan, with both clubs reaching the Champions League final in the last two seasons.
How does he fit into Arsenal's current campaign?
Tzolis's arrival comes as Arsenal build momentum early in the 2026-27 season. The team's flawless league form, detailed in the current standings, shows nine points from a possible nine. However, the squad is managing some injury concerns, with defenders William Saliba and Cristhian Mosquera currently sidelined. Fans can monitor recovery timelines on the club's injuries page.
The immediate focus now shifts to maintaining this form. Arsenal's next test is an away trip to face Sunderland on September 12. Sunderland currently sit 12th in the table, presenting another opportunity for Tzolis and his teammates to extend their winning run. The full schedule of upcoming matches is available on the fixtures page.
