Christos Tzolis has come a long way since his difficult spell at Norwich City. After joining from Greek side PAOK as a highly rated 20-year-old, the winger struggled for consistent minutes amid coaching changes and relegation. A loan move to Fortuna Düsseldorf in 2023, however, proved to be a turning point.
Tzolis rediscovered his form in Germany, scoring more than 20 goals and convincing Fortuna to make his move permanent. He was then sold to Belgian giants Club Brugge for a reported €6.5 million in 2024.
His rapid development continued in Belgium, where he enjoyed an outstanding season with 22 goals and 29 assists in all competitions. He was also named Belgian Pro League Player of the Season, attracting Arsenal, who reportedly paid a Belgian record €40 million to sign the 24-year-old.
A right-footed inverted winger, Tzolis is most comfortable on the left but can operate anywhere across the front line. His biggest strength is his shooting. From the left, he often cuts inside, finds space between the full-back and centre-back, and quickly unleashes powerful, curling efforts before defenders can close him down.
Tzolis averaged 3.1 shots per 90 minutes last season, showing how much freedom Club Brugge gave him in the final third. His relatively modest 0.14 xG per shot also suggests there is room for improvement in his shot selection. Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta will need to decide whether to give him the same attacking freedom and whether he can maintain his effectiveness against stronger Premier League defences.
Despite being predominantly right-footed, Tzolis is comfortable using his left as well. He can beat defenders on the outside, deliver crosses, cut the ball back from the byline and finish from difficult angles.
When he chooses not to shoot, Tzolis remains dangerous through his dribbling, quick combinations and intelligent movement around the box. His diagonal runs and one-twos can disrupt defensive structures, while many of his assists come from short combinations before finding teammates in dangerous positions.
His combination of high-volume shooting, creativity and movement makes him an exciting attacking option for Arsenal. His set-piece ability is another bonus, with his powerful and precise delivery providing an additional threat from corners and free kicks.
How Has He Developed Since His Norwich Days?
The biggest improvement in Tzolis’ game is his understanding of movement and combination play. He has become much better at making third-man runs and attacking space before the ball arrives, rather than waiting for the pass before deciding where to move.
His 4.9 progressive runs per 90 minutes are another encouraging sign for Arsenal. Against teams that sit deep and allow Arsenal to dominate possession, his ability to constantly attack spaces between defenders could make him a valuable weapon.
Tzolis now arrives at Arsenal as a more complete and mature attacker than the player who struggled for opportunities at Norwich. The challenge will be adapting his impressive Belgian form to the higher intensity and quality of the Premier League, but his versatility, shooting, creativity and improved off-ball movement give him plenty of potential to become an important part of Arteta’s attack.
