Christos Tzolis could be plunged into an unexpected role change at Arsenal

Change of plan for Arsenal: Christos Tzolis looks set to be their first choice on the left for the coming season.

Mikel Arteta has long wished to boost his LW options and he entered this transfer window with that being a top priority. Morgan Rogers ranked first on the hit list until he moved to Chelsea, while much groundwork was done to try facilitate a move for Vinicius Jr. only for the Real Madrid man to extend his deal in Spain.

Of course, Tzolis himself joined from Club Brugge but he simply replaced Leandro Trossard after his switch to Besiktas last month. Everyone still felt that Arsenal would go on to spend big on a marquee forward.

And it could happen yet. At present, there remains talk of a late push for Julian Alvarez (he is hardly a LW solution?) and Gabriel Martinelli is edging ever closer to Al-Hilal, with the Gunners trying to get a deal done for around £60m.

But the club have neither the time to spend nor the names to target even if Martinelli departs in the next few days. The window will shut on Tuesday and many of those preferred by Arteta – Vinicius Jr., Anthony Gordon, Bradley Barcola, Rogers and Kenan Yildiz – have either moved already, boast a huge price tag, or are simply not for sale.

It all adds to the likelihood of Tzolis rising up the ranks, from mere second fiddle to Vinicius Jr. (it still hurts) to being the main man on the left.

How the player and the fans digest that prospect is unclear. So far, if pre-season and the Belgian Pro League are anything to go by, then Tzolis seems like quite the handful with a steady knack for being involved in the attacking phase.

But starting for the champions is a big step up.  

For the spectator, then, it could prove exasperating. There have been so many false hopes and failed LW transfer attempts over the years, yet a PL title win brought renewed faith that Arsenal would go out and use their enhanced prestige/fortune to have their pick of the bunch, thus finally recruiting a world-class name for that position.

Tzolis does not immediately stand out as being that world-class name but he deserves a fair crack of the whip to make the spot his own. Indeed, Eberechi Eze can also play there should Arteta wish to try something different.    

It is a mere quantum of solace for Arsenal fans who dared to dream big; for Tzolis, it could be the role change of a lifetime.      

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