Arsenal have been on quite the rollercoaster under Mikel Arteta‘s management, but the Spanish coach’s hunger for titles hasn’t yet been sated.
It’s been a strong start to the 2026/27 season for the Gunners. They are top of the Premier League and flying, nine wins and one defeat from ten opening games; in the Champions League, Arsenal have been excellent so far, ten points from 12.
However, Arteta and co are always looking for ways to improve, and while the manager has created a superlative system, they are still lacking the kind of oomph in attack which could take them to the next level, perhaps win them the Champions League.
Christos Tzolis was the standout attacking signing of the summer transfer window, but the Greek winger has flattered to deceive of late.
Why Christos Tzolis is struggling for Arsenal
Arsenal spent £35m on Tzolis this summer, adding to their ranks one of the most prolific wingers operating outside Europe’s top five leagues last season. Tzolis scored 22 goals and supplied 29 more across 52 games in all competitions last year for Club Brugge.
He started strongly on English shores, but the winger’s form has dried up in recent weeks, and it’s fair to say that he’s not offering enough for Arteta’s side. As Daniel Scouting said, “The gap in quality between Tzolis and the rest of Arsenal wingers is significant.”
The Greek international remains a talented playmaker, but his ball-carrying numbers in the Premier League are negligible (0.1 dribbles per game, at a 11% success rate), and he has yet to break his Premier League duck.
It’s worth noting that Tzolis was never meant to be a superstar in this team. He replaced Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, both forwards departing this summer, but Arsenal also tried to sign a superstar, with efforts made to sign one of Vinicius Junior or Julian Alvarez.
Now, Tzolis has been exposed; recent matches have shown that he lacks pace and struggles to take on and beat his man.
Arsenal in talks to sign big Tzolis upgrade
It’s far too premature to suggest that Tzolis should be cast away from the Arsenal first team, sold at the first opportunity. However, it’s clear that Arteta could welcome an upgrade on the wing, and that the Greek attacker could play second-fiddle. That may well have been the original plan.
Well, according to TEAMtalk, technical director Andrea Berta is drafting plans to sign a biug upgrade in RB Leipzig’s Antonio Nusa, with Arsenal believed to now be accelerating their bid to sign the Norwegian.
The 21-year-old has been in devastating form off the left wing in Germany this season, making gains after a promising 2025/26 campaign, but a year which left plenty to be desired, with only four goals and three assists clinched across 31 Bundesliga appearances.
The key difference here is that Nusa would work for his dinner, whereas we have seen in Tzolis a lack of urgency on the move for Arsenal. It’s all well and good being naturally gifted from a creative standpoint, but Tzolis is not working hard enough to make a difference when in the build-up, when taking on defenders. Sadly, he’s stuck out like a sore thumb in recent weeks because of this.
|
League Stats (26/27) |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Stats (* per 90) |
Nusa |
Tzolis |
|
Matches (starts) |
9 (8) |
7 (7) |
|
Goals + Assists |
4 + 7 |
0 + 1 |
|
Touches* |
42.2 |
40.7 |
|
Shots (on target)* |
2.1 (1.0) |
1.3 (0.7) |
|
Accurate passes* |
19.6 (76%) |
20.3 (80%) |
|
Big chances created |
9 |
1 |
|
Key passes* |
2.1 |
1.4 |
|
Succ. dribbles* |
2.4 (59%) |
0.1 (11%) |
|
Ball recoveries* |
2.4 |
2.4 |
|
Def. contributions |
1.1 |
1.9 |
|
Duels won* |
5.3 (56%) |
4.4 (53%) |
In Belgium, Club Brugge are the dominant force, physically and technically levels above their opponents. In this, Tzolis was able to find plenty of space on the regular to strike on goal or create chances for his teammates. As has been the case with so many talented hopefuls, the Premier League’s intensity and physicality presents a whole different ballpark for such forwards.
Nusa has the skillset to thrive in these conditions, and he’s already been described as “one of the best wingers in Europe” by Leipzig manager Martin Demichelis. He seems to get stronger every single year, and it’s for that reason that Arsenal must throw the kitchen sink and hope they get this one over the line in January.
Nusa has gone from strength to strength in 2026. He has shown for club and country that he has the potential to become a superstar, with the underlying athleticism and physical properties to set him apart from Tzolis.
It’s a deal that Berta and co need to get done, preferably in January.
