Christos Tzolis needs to take a leaf out of Bukayo Saka’s playbook

Christos Tzolis scored for Greece in a 2-1 win against Serbia last night.

Arsenal’s £34million summer signing received the ball off Vangelis Pavlidis, took it wide of the defender and arrowed an accurate left-footed shot into the bottom right corner. It was a really well-taken goal but it’s something we’re yet to see him do in an Arsenal shirt.

He’s clearly got ability in the box — that’s part of the reason the recruitment team identified him as a suitable replacement for Leandro Trossard. But the stats show we haven’t seen him get in these positions anywhere near enough.

Tzolis has had just four shots across Arsenal’s opening five Premier League games. Compare that to Bukayo Saka, on the opposite flank, who has had 15.

It’s not exactly a flattering stat for Tzolis, whose dribbling numbers are even more concerning. If a winger isn’t beating their man consistently and isn’t shooting enough, are they even at the level?

Mikel Arteta has seemingly instructed Saka to get into more shooting positions this season. We’ve seen the England winger taking up central areas, arriving at the back post, and almost operating as a second striker at times. The fact that he is taking on 3.23 shots per 90 is the direct result of that tactical instruction.

In Tzolis’ defence, we haven’t really seen him get into the same areas on the other flank. He tends to stay wider and rely on his cutback delivery which has led to three goals for the Gunners this season. But is that enough? Is he providing enough attacking threat from the left wing?

The Greece goal shows he can shoot. But getting off less than one shot per 90 in the Premier League shows he’s either choosing not to or not finding the positions to do so. Either way, it needs to change.