Christos Tzolis vowed ‘now it’s my time’ after previously struggling in England at Norwich as he looks to emulate his childhood Arsenal idol Alexis Sanchez.
The 24-year-old winger joined the Gunners in a £34million transfer from Club Bruges last month, where he struck an extraordinary 40 goal contributions (17 goals, 23 assists) in 36 league appearances last season.
It’s a steep trajectory from his struggles at Norwich in the Premier League five years ago. He failed to breakthrough, before going on loan spells to FC Twente and Fortuna Dusseldorf — and then making the switch to Belgium.
Though Tzolis feels as though he is now a completely transformed player from the one who last played in the English top-flight.
He said: ‘It was totally different than now. It’s always difficult for a team that is promoted from the second division to the Premier League to play high level football.
‘The team I think was not really ready for the Premier League and that makes it also difficult for me to adapt and to play how I could.
Christos Tzolis believes he is a transformed play as he returns to the Premier League with Arsenal
The £34million signing from Club Bruges believes he has similarities to his idol Alexis Sanchez, who starred at Arsenal during four years in North London
‘You can have some setbacks and difficulties. I only learnt a lot of things from this period at Norwich.
‘I have three years in a row that I’m important for my teams and I have a big role in an attacking part. And I feel now more ready to be in the Premier League. Now I have the chance to play for Arsenal. For me, I think I did the right decision after Norwich. I developed myself, I improved a lot. I’m not the same player I was in Norwich, 100 per cent.
‘I feel it also in my body and also in my mindset. Now it’s my time to show that I’m ready and capable of playing in the Premier League.’
He has hit the ground running upon joining Arsenal less than two weeks ago, marking his full debut for the club against Girona on Saturday with a first goal. The winger received the ball on the left before cutting inside and firing his shot into the bottom-right corner via a deflection off Kai Havertz.
Tzolis wears the No17 shirt, which was once donned by his idol Sanchez. He sees similarities between himself and the ex-Gunners forward, who became one of Arsenal’s standout stars during his four years in north London.
‘Actually, I knew that he (Sanchez) was wearing the shirt of number 17,’ said Tzolis. ‘Of course, I watched a lot of football and he was a top player for Arsenal, as a left winger always. He’s one of the players I looked up to when I was younger. And also, I see some similarities with him. But it’s not the reason I took the number 17.
‘It’s nice (though). Alexis Sanchez had number 17 — so I hope I will have the same success.’
He’s certainly already making up for lost time having quickly become the man to beat in fitness tests, according to Ben White.
The England man remarked: ‘Christos has been amazing. He came in, did all the testing, and beat everyone. So he is fitting in really well and everyone is really happy for him to be here.’
Tzolis struggled to make a breakthrough in the Premier League while at Norwich, but has since enjoyed a steep rise leading to champion Arsenal signing him this summer
The Greek winger scored on his first appearance in an Arsenal shirt in their friendly with Girona
Tzolis wholeheartedly agreed. He means business.
‘I know I’ve won so far,’ he added. ‘There are not all the players here. There are still some players that have to do the tests, of course.
‘But so far I’m first in the fitness test. It’s like 20 metres, go back, 40 metres, go back, 60 metres, go back, I think five times in a row. So it’s around 1.2k and it’s as fast as possible. Actually, it’s pretty hard.
‘Actually I had the advantage that I started pre-season also with Bruges so I was already training for two weeks and always I wanted to keep myself fit during summer so I was ready.
‘I came here ready (with) my fitness level and I was happy that I could show it here as well.’
