With less than a month to go until the new Premier League season, Mikel Arteta will no doubt be working hard to ensure his Arsenal side are up to the task of defending their title.
The Spaniard ended the club’s 22-year wait for a top-division trophy, but the fanbase will now be hoping to add more silverware to their cabinet.
Manchester City, Liverpool and Chelsea are all under new managers and could pose an unknown threat to the Gunners as they aim to stay top of the table throughout the 2026/27 season.
If Arteta’s side are to have an advantage over any of the aforementioned teams, they will need to hope that one of this summer’s new signings makes an immediate impact at the Emirates.
Why Tzoris will add a new dimension to Arteta’s attack in 2026/27
Arsenal have signed winger Christos Tzoris from Belgian champions Club Brugge for £34m as part of their summer recruitment drive.
The Greek international finished the most recent season with 22 goals and 29 assists in just 52 appearances, figures that have undoubtedly caught the attention of the Gunners fan base.
But many will wonder what he will offer Arteta’s side next campaign, apart from his impressive goal contribution numbers.
Tzoris has earned a reputation as a direct attacker who prefers to cut down the left flank, drive inside and shoot at goal with his stronger right foot.
Most G+A in Belgian Pro League (2025/26) | |
|---|---|
player | tally |
Christos Tsolis | 40 |
Nicolo Tresoldi | twenty four |
Torgan Hazard | 20 |
Keisuke Goto | 18 |
vincent janssen | 17 |
Wilfried Kanga | 16 |
Jeppe Ellenbjörg | 16 |
carlos forbes | 16 |
He then recorded the most shots on target per 90 of any Belgian top division player, which undoubtedly contributed to him finishing the year as the league’s top scorer.
The 24-year-old also created the most chances of any player in the professional league, with his 3.5/90 record better than 95% of players across the continent.
It is clear that Tzolis has the ability to find the back of the net on his own, while also having a top-level ability to create chances for those around him, something that is desperately needed at the Emirates.
Tzoris looks like a player with a great skill set offensively, but the jump from the Belgian Pro League to the Premier League is definitely a big one.
The Greek international will be able to approach last season’s goals and assists record, but if he can do so, Arteta’s side will undoubtedly lift the league title again next May.
His only experience in Europe’s top five leagues came in 2022 when he played for Norwich City, where he made 30 appearances and scored just three goals.
As a result, the Gunners are looking to add additional reinforcements on the left side of their attack, leading to a possible move for RB Leipzig star Antonio Nusa.
The Sun reports that Arsenal are preparing to make an offer for the Norwegian star, while north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur remain in the race.
They also claim that the Bundesliga side do not want to lose the 21-year-old attacker this summer but would be open to offers in the region of £51 million.
Spending even more money on a left-winger this summer may prove controversial, but this is the area of the pitch that caused Arteta the most trouble last season.
Tsolis only completed his transfer earlier this week, but he may have to settle for a place on the bench as Nusa have proven in recent months that they arguably have better talent in the forward areas.
Like the Greek star, he had a breakout year at Club Brugge before moving to Leipzig in 2024, before going on to score 10 goals and provide 10 assists in the past two seasons.
Although such a figure is lower than the newly added £34m, Nusa’s figure is arguably more impressive considering the increasing quality of opponents they face week on week.
He also managed to further increase the number of successful dribbles he attempted last season, ranking in the top 5% of all forwards in Europe’s top five leagues with a record of 3.1 successful take-ons per 90.
With numbers like these, he could be a more immediate option than Tzoris for the Gunners. Arteta rates the quality of his wingers highly, as seen with Bukayo Saka on the right side of the front line.
The Norwegian featured for his country at the recent World Cup, scoring in a 2-1 win over Ivory Coast, further proving his ability to perform on the biggest stage.
The Greek star has been unable to replicate such a feat during his professional career, which could further strengthen the argument that Nusa is the more immediate option for the Premier League.
£51m would be a bit of a big deal for the Gunners this summer, but it would certainly end their long search to strengthen their options on the left.
The 21-year-old and Tsolis could cement their place in the top ranks for years to come, and could encourage each other’s development to reach the next level.
