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Christos Jolis, Arsenal’s first outfield signing since becoming Premier League champions, is fairly surprising. But no one will be more shocked by the deal than Norwich fans.
In 2021, Tzolis signed for the Canaries for a record £10m, played just 30 times over two years in a hit-and-run spell, then left without a trace.
He even made his Premier League debut for Norwich at the Emirates in September, when Arsenal were bottom of the table and without a point under Mikel Arteta.
Now he is back in England and has joined the Premier League champions, having contributed 51 goals in 52 games for Club Brugge last season.
Yet Tjolis is set to arrive at Arsenal as a record-breaker. At £34m, he will be Greece’s most expensive player and the Belgian Pro League’s biggest export.
But he also comes as a direct replacement for Leandro Trossard. And a closer look at Tzolis’ profile shows a lot of similarities between the two players.
The first is the profile. To those who know him, the Greek forward is a winger but like Trossard, he is also a number 10. Last summer, Crystal Palace strongly considered Jolis as a replacement for now-Arsenal star Iberechi Eze.
Tzolis is primarily a left winger but can also play as a number 10
“He’s capable of playing different roles,” Hayek Milkon said Sky SportsWho until February this year was the assistant manager of Club Brugge in Belgium for Tjolis full-time.
“Coming in from the left – giving him this space to start wide and then finding moments to go further inside – that’s where he’s at his strongest.
“If he’s assigned to play really wide to get those one-on-ones, he’s capable of doing that. But he’s always strongest the closer he is to the goal. Whenever he’s more focused, you can expect him to attack in space at any moment.”
Another similarity between Tzolis and Trossard is their availability. Trossard had an exemplary injury record at Arsenal and was injured in just four games in three-and-a-half years. All four of those games came in his final season in north London.
Jolis played against Arsenal in the Champions League last season
Meanwhile, Tzolis had the same record at Club Brugge. The most time he spent at the Belgian club was two matches – although he was one of the team’s most energetic and intense players.
“He’s a guy who does a lot of work,” Milkon added. “He runs a lot of kilometers in the game, but also at a high speed and in his sprint distance.
“Anyone can do it once a week. He is doing it every three or four days with the Champions League. And his performance has been stable.
“He also takes care of his body very well. He is a super professional. He comes very early on match days to prepare his body for the front, to activate. He eats well, trains well. He has everything you need to be a top professional player.”
A final comparison between Trossard and Tzolis is a slight temper – born from the desire to win. Arteta once affectionately called Troussard “a bit of a whiner” at Arsenal by constantly complaining in training and to referees.
And one big area of improvement for Tjolis according to his former coach? “Emotional stability,” says Milkon.
“He doesn’t like kicking. Nobody likes it, obviously. But he no. He is often targeted. You have to stop him somehow. And the opposition could not stop him.
“But when he gets that kick or when the referee’s decision is bad for him, it can be a bit difficult for him to stay in the game.”
According to Milken, this is called “warrior mode”. And that Tzolis has a little temper, doesn’t translate to being toxic or a bad teammate.
When Club Brugge were crowned Belgian champions this season, teammates joined Tzolis in a classic Greek Sirtaki dance on the Champions stage – showing how he captured the hearts and minds of the dressing room.
“They did it often,” adds Milkon. “And you don’t do that to a guy who isn’t that well-liked in the group.
Tjolis’ goals led Club Brugge to the Belgian Pro League title last season
“As a person, he is an amazing guy. He makes the team like a family because he is very open, very easy-going, always smiling, always joking in the dressing room, comfortable off the pitch.
“But when we go on the field, he’s immediately in warrior mode. And every single training session has to be won. It’s not just about playing around. And if he’s not successful at something, he can sometimes try to force it.
“But, yes, he’s a winner. And off the pitch, he’s the most amazing guy you could have in the dressing room.
“He can seem a bit stubborn at times, but he’s open. He’s willing to learn. He definitely has his way and his feelings on the pitch, and you have to respect that.
“But when you give some direction and you show him why he should do it, he’s always open because he wants the best.”
Gyokeres form Tzolis’ goal numbers need to be verified?
Obviously, his goal record, 22 goals and 29 assists in all competitions last season, helped Jollis win over in the Club Brugge dressing room.
But it wasn’t a one-off season, as he scored at least 20 goals in each of his last three campaigns at Club Brugge and Fortuna Dusseldorf.
His ball striking ability was perfected in Belgium. “In training sessions, you immediately see his powerful strikes,” Milkon said.
“He always uses that quality to eliminate the goalkeeper because it’s so powerful. It’s incredible. But we’ve added subtlety to it.”
But of course, those goal numbers should be verified due to the league in which they are playing According to Opta’s Power Rankings – the Belguim Pro League sits as the eighth strongest league in the world – one place below the EFL Championship.
Arsenal discovered last season that Victor Giocares’ goals in Portugal were more difficult to translate to the Premier League – his 39 league goals for Sporting CP turned into 14 top-flight strikes in his debut Arsenal season.
The Champions League data, which is a fair way to understand Tzolis’ potential, presents the Greek winger in a better light.
The 24-year-old was one of the most shot-friendly players in the Champions League last season, sitting in great company with a maximum shot every 90 shots.
What helped Jolis get into good territory was his ability to carry the ball. Again, Tzolis rivaled Europe’s best in moving the ball towards a shooting opportunity last season.
The number is even more impressive given that Tjolis played for ‘less’ teams in the Champions League last term. Club Brugge averaged around 46 per cent possession last season before being knocked out of the play-offs – near the bottom of the list of clubs that have made it out of the league stage.
Both list Tzolis as well as Khvicha Kvaratskhelia Paris Saint-Germain, who Arsenal searched for a deal at the start of the summer. Coincidentally, the Georgian winger was scouted at Napoli by Maurizio Micheli, who now works as part of Andrea Barta’s talent-spotting team at Arsenal.
Tzolis may not be the most outstanding name Arsenal sign in the transfer market and despite struggling at Norwich, a move for the Greek winger makes a fair bit of sense.
