Christos Tzolis has opened up about his decision to join Arsenal, explaining that the club’s determined approach made his choice straightforward.
New signing Christos Tzolis explains his Arsenal decision
Christos Tzolis Reveals Why He Chose Arsenal Over Other Clubs
The Greek winger completed a £34 million move to the Emirates Stadium from Club Brugge last month, becoming Arsenal’s first major signing of the summer transfer window.
After an impressive campaign in Belgium, Tzolis attracted interest from multiple clubs, but the Gunners moved quickly to secure his signature.
“There are always some teams that talk, but Arsenal was directly the most concrete team,” Tzolis told reporters, as relayed by The Athletic.
“That makes it easier to lock in and say, ‘I just want to go there and I don’t want to hear anything else.’ Some teams were trying, but it was an easy choice and clear that I wanted to join here.”
The 24-year-old revealed that Mikel Arteta played a significant role in persuading him to join the north London side.
“He knows my game style and wants me to do the same things at Arsenal. He doesn’t want me to do things differently than I did at Club Brugge,” Tzolis explained.
“He didn’t say, ‘You have to score 10 or 15 goals’, but just to ‘play free and show your qualities; then everything will come’.”
The attacker added that Arteta’s approach has eased his transition, particularly regarding his role in the final third.
“That makes it a bit easier to be in the final third when we have a lot of possession. The chances will be there; the only thing is to be ready and focused.”
Tzolis previously struggled during his first stint in English football with Norwich City, where he failed to secure regular game time and endured two loan spells before joining Brugge permanently in 2024.
However, the PAOK academy graduate believes he is now better equipped for the Premier League challenge.
The winger has already impressed during Arsenal’s pre-season preparations, performing strongly in fitness tests during the club’s training camp in Girona last week.
He registered an assist in the 3-0 victory over MK Dons and found the net in the 4-1 triumph against Girona last Saturday, demonstrating his immediate impact at his new club.
