Arsenal summer signing Christos Tzolis throws down gauntlet to Premier League title rivals

New Arsenal signing Christos Tzolis has boldly declared the reigning Premier League champions are fully prepared to defend their crown, insisting that the "pressure" now rests squarely on their rivals to prevent them from securing back-to-back titles. The Greece international, who joined the Gunners in a £34 million move from Club Brugge, marked his debut with a goal in Saturday’s 4-1 victory over Girona. Despite significant interest in Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior and Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes – with the latter potentially nearing a switch to the Emirates Stadium this week – Tzolis remains the club’s sole outfield acquisition of the summer so far. Arsenal face some early season challenges, with key defender William Saliba set to miss the start of the campaign due to a back injury. Fitness doubts also linger over Declan Rice and Bukayo Saka following their interrupted World Cup commitments with England. However, when questioned about Arsenal’s readiness to defend their first title in 22 years, Tzolis was unequivocal. William Saliba is expected to miss the start of the season (Getty) "Of course. To defend a title, you don’t have to think about it. It’s more difficult for the other teams because the pressure is there, not on the team who won the title," he stated. He further emphasised the squad’s collective drive: "When I see training, and how hungry every player is for every training drill, that means everybody’s ready to compete at the highest level. And when you’re a player at Arsenal, you want to compete for every title that’s possible. So, it’s not only about the Premier League , it’s about all the competitions we are playing for. And I see a clear mindset (from the players) and that everybody is on the same page to win titles here." Tzolis’s journey to Arsenal has seen its share of ups and downs. He previously played 14 Premier League games for Norwich during the 2021-22 season, including his debut against Arsenal, but failed to score. Loan spells at FC Twente and Fortuna Dusseldorf followed before his move to Club Brugge in 2024, where he netted 43 times across 108 appearances, catching Arsenal’s attention. Expected to operate from Arsenal’s left flank, Tzolis arrives as a replacement for Leandro Trossard, who moved to Besiktas. Reflecting on his past experiences, the 24-year-old acknowledged the value of setbacks. "In football it’s not always about playing at the highest level," he continued. "You can have some setbacks and difficulties. And I only learned a lot of things from this period at Norwich. “That’s why I wanted to go to Dusseldorf – to get the confidence back because I knew I have the skills and qualities to score goals. Even though it was not the highest level, like playing in the Premier League, it’s good to play every game and have the feeling that you can score and create and play well." He credits this period for his subsequent success: "Then I went to the next level, which is Club Brugge, and I had two amazing years there because of that, because I made the decision to go to Dusseldorf and regain my confidence. So in all, I have had three years in a row where I’ve been important for those two teams, and I had a big role in an attacking part, and now I feel I am more than ready to be in the Premier League. “I’m not the same player I was in Norwich, 100 per cent. I feel that in my body and also in my mindset. Now it’s my time to show that I’m capable of playing in the Premier League."