How Arsenal could sign an instant upgrade on Tzolis for £51m

With less than a month to go until the new Premier League campaign, Mikel Arteta will no doubt be working tirelessly to ensure his Arsenal side are up for the task of defending their title.

The Spaniard ended the club’s 22-year wait for a top-division trophy, but the expectations of the fanbase will now be to add further silverware to the cabinet.

Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea are all under new management and could pose an unknown threat to the Gunners in the hunt for top spot throughout 2026/27.

If Arteta’s men are to get the better of any of the aforementioned sides, he will need to hope one of his new additions this summer makes an immediate impact at the Emirates.

Why Tzolis will add a new dimension to Arteta’s attack in 2026/27

As part of Arsenal’s summer recruitment drive, the hierarchy completed the £34m signing of winger Christos Tzolis from Belgian champions Club Brugge.

The Greek international ended the most recent campaign with 22 goals and 29 assists in just 52 appearances – numbers which undoubtedly catch the eye of the Gunners fanbase.

However, many will be asking the question, away from his impressive goal contribution tally, what will he offer Arteta’s men next campaign?

Tzolis has gained a reputation for being a direct attacker who likes to cut off the left flank and drive inside and fire efforts on goal with his stronger right foot.

He subsequently registered the most shots on target per 90 of any player in the Belgian top-division, which no doubt played a part in him ending the year as the league’s top-scorer.

The 24-year-old also created the most chances of any player within the Pro League, with his tally of 3.5 per 90 also placing him above 95% of players across the continent.

It’s evident Tzolis is capable of finding the back of the net alone, whilst having a top-level ability to provide opportunities for those around – something which is desperately needed at the Emirates.

Tzolis appears to be a player who has an impressive skillset in attacking areas, but the jump from the Belgian Pro League to the Premier League is undoubtedly a massive one.

The Greek international will do well to get anywhere near his tally of goals and assists last term, but if he does, Arteta’s men will certainly be lifting the league title again next May.

His only previous experience in Europe’s top-five leagues saw him feature for Norwich City back in 2022, where he only registered three goals from his 30 appearances.

As a result, the Gunners have been targeting added reinforcements for the left-hand side of their attack – leading to a potential move for RB Leipzig star Antonio Nusa.

It’s been reported by The Sun that Arsenal are preparing an offer for the Norwegian star, but North London rivals Tottenham Hotspur also remain present in the race.

They also claim that the Bundesliga side don’t want to lose the 21-year-old attacker this summer, but would entertain offers in and around the £51m mark.

Spending another huge sum on a left-winger may appear to be a controversial call this summer, but it’s an area of the pitch which caused Arteta the most trouble last season.

Whilst Tzolis only completed his move earlier this week, he may have to settle for a place on the bench – as Nusa has proved in recent months that he’s undoubtedly a bigger talent in forward areas.

Like the Greek star, he enjoyed his breakout years at Club Brugge, before moving to Leipzig in 2024 – subsequently registering 10 goals and 10 assists in the last two campaigns.

Whilst such tallies are lower than the new £34m addition, Nusa’s tallies are certainly more impressive given the increased quality of opposition he faces on a weekly basis.

He also managed to complete more of his attempted dribbles last term, with his tally of 3.1 successful take-ons per 90 ranking him in the top 5% of all forwards in Europe’s top-five leagues.

Such numbers could make him a more direct option than Tzolis for the Gunners – a quality Arteta adores in his wingers, as seen with Bukayo Saka on the right-side of the frontline.

The Norwegian even represented his nation during the recent World Cup – even netting a goal during the 2-1 victory over Ivory Coast and further demonstrating his ability to deliver on the biggest stage.

The Greek star has been unable to emulate such an achievement during his professional career, which could add to the argument that Nusa is a more ready-made option for the Premier League.

£51m would be a somewhat expensive deal for the Gunners this summer, but it would no doubt put an end to their extended hunt to improve the options in the left-wing department.

The 21-year-old and Tzolis could nail down their place in the senior ranks for many years to come – potentially pushing each other to reach the next level in their own development.

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