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Sports · Soccer · published 2026-08-27 · via The Athletic

Tzolis quickly endears himself to Arsenal fans after PAOK rise

Image via The Athletic
Image via The Athletic

Christos Tzolis has made an immediate impression at Arsenal, starring in the opening win over Coventry. The Greek winger developed at PAOK, where he broke into the first team after the pandemic. His direct dribbling and technical ability have already excited supporters.

Expanded Detail

Tzolis's path to Arsenal was accelerated by the pandemic shutdown, which allowed him to train daily with PAOK's senior squad. His coaches noted that this forced "pre-season" made his transition to first-team football feel natural rather than overwhelming. He debuted against Olympiacos in June 2020, weeks after play resumed.

His breakthrough moment came during Champions League qualifying against Besiktas, where he scored twice and set up another in a 3-1 victory. That performance, coming just two months after his promotion, demonstrated the same direct dribbling and creative passing he has already shown at Arsenal, including a cross for Saka's goal against Coventry.

Context

Tzolis's rapid integration at Arsenal could energize Premier League audiences by showcasing how European academies develop

Expanded detail and Context are AI-generated analysis; the linked article remains the authoritative source.
Read the full article at The Athletic →
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This summary is Al-enhanced to contain extended analysis and broader social context. The original is {NAME); the linked article is the authoritative source. Original headline: “The rise of Arsenal's Christos Tzolis: PAOK breakthrough, set-piece assists, showing 'funny' side.” Browse more stories.