New Arsenal signing Christos Tzolis has dismissed concerns regarding the pressure of defending a Premier League title, suggesting that the weight of expectation currently rests on the shoulders of the club's rivals. The Greek international, who arrived at the Emirates Stadium from Club Brugge last month, made an immediate impact by scoring during his debut in a 4-1 pre-season friendly victory against Girona.
Arsenal enters the 2026/27 season as the reigning league champions, having successfully ended a 22-year drought during the previous campaign. When asked about the challenge of defending the trophy, the 24-year-old expressed confidence in his team's mindset. He noted that the pressure is naturally higher for the teams chasing the title rather than the group that has already secured it.
Tzolis, who joined the Gunners as a replacement for Leandro Trossard following the latter's move to Besiktas, pointed to the intense hunger displayed by his teammates in training. He emphasized that the squad is prepared to compete at the highest level across all competitions, not just the Premier League. He described a collective, unified mindset among the players, all of whom are focused on securing further silverware.
The forward is no stranger to English football, having previously competed in the Premier League for Norwich City during the 2021/22 season. Reflecting on his transition to Arsenal, Tzolis revealed that he held two separate discussions with manager Mikel Arteta over the summer. While one session was dedicated to building a personal rapport and discussing his career path, the other focused on tactical expectations. According to Tzolis, Arteta expressed a desire for him to maintain the same playing style he utilized at Club Brugge, where he enjoyed a prolific season, recording 22 goals and 29 assists across 52 appearances.
