Arsenal are already delighted with summer signing Christos Tzolis, with Club Brugge president Bart Verhaeghe revealing the Gunners have been hugely impressed by the winger since his arrival.
The 24-year-old completed a move to the Emirates in July for €40million plus bonuses after an outstanding final season in Belgium.
Tzolis registered 22 goals and 29 assists in 52 appearances for Club Brugge last term, having remained at the club despite a €32m offer from Crystal Palace the previous summer.
His preference was ultimately to join Arsenal, and his early performances suggest the transition to Mikel Arteta’s side is going smoothly. The Greece international has already provided three assists in his first four appearances.
Arsenal impressed by Tzolis behind the scenes
Verhaeghe has now revealed just how positive Arsenal’s early assessment of Tzolis has been.
Speaking to Het Belang van Limburg, the Club Brugge president explained that he encountered Arsenal representatives at the Champions League draw and received glowing feedback about his former player.
“What a player you’ve delivered,” Verhaeghe recalled Arsenal officials telling him. “Excellent attitude, the best in the physical tests, and a great guy, too.”
In a separate interview with Het Laatste Nieuws, Verhaeghe offered a similar account.
“‘What a player,’ Arsenal said when they approached me after the draw. Christos had come out on top in all the tests.”
It suggests Tzolis has made an impression beyond his contributions on the pitch. His physical condition and attitude have evidently stood out since joining Arteta’s squad.
Club Brugge strategy pays off
For Verhaeghe, Tzolis is also evidence that Club Brugge’s approach to player development is working.
The Belgian side resisted the opportunity to cash in on the winger last year because they believed another season would leave him better prepared for a move to one of Europe’s biggest clubs.
That patience was rewarded with his €40m-plus transfer to Arsenal.
“That’s what we do here: deliver a ready-made product,” Verhaeghe said. “Because we know what those top teams are looking for. We prepare our players for that kind of football.”
He pointed to Club Brugge’s focus on areas such as nutrition and sleep as part of that development process and believes the club’s ability to sell players to Arsenal and Inter Milan demonstrates how far they have progressed.
For Arsenal, the early signs are encouraging. Tzolis arrived following a spectacular individual season in Belgium and has immediately started producing assists, while also impressing Arteta’s staff with his attitude and physical levels.
Key Points
- Arsenal signed Christos Tzolis from Club Brugge for €40m plus bonuses after he produced 22 goals and 29 assists last season.
- Club Brugge president Bart Verhaeghe says Arsenal officials told him Tzolis had the “best” results in their physical testing.
- Arsenal have also been particularly impressed by the winger’s attitude and personality since his arrival.
- Tzolis has started strongly on the pitch, providing three assists in his first four appearances for Mikel Arteta’s side.
What’s Next?
Tzolis now has the opportunity to turn his impressive start into a significant role in Arteta’s attack. With Arsenal already pleased by his physical condition and attitude, his next challenge will be establishing himself as a consistent starter while translating last season’s prolific numbers in Belgium to the Premier League.
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