Former Arsenal defender Kieran Gibbs has praised the Gunners’ recent acquisition, Christos Tzolis, following their Community Shield victory against Manchester City.
The Premier League champions secured a comfortable 3-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday, with Tzolis contributing two assists.
Mikel Arteta demonstrated his trust in Tzolis by including him in the starting lineup for the match against City.
The 24-year-old, who previously played for Norwich City in the Premier League, made significant contributions in the attacking phase.
After Riccardo Calafiori opened the scoring for Arsenal within the first 25 seconds in Cardiff, it was Tzolis who set up Kai Havertz for a goal.
The Greece international maneuvered behind Abdukodir Khusanov and elevated himself to head Martin Odegaard’s cross into Havertz’s path for a straightforward finish.
Tzolis then assisted Odegaard in sealing the victory just three minutes into the second half, delivering a precise pass from the left to the Arsenal captain inside the penalty area.
Gibbs expressed his admiration for the transfer activities undertaken by the Gunners this summer. He highlighted the signings of Tzolis and Bruno Guimaraes as ‘really good’ acquisitions for the club.
In a discussion on ESPN FC, Gibbs said, “Some really, really good business from them so far in the window. With these two signings we’re clearly seeing at the moment that it’s definitely working out.”
Gibbs commended Guimaraes for his aggression and ability to pass the ball forward. In contrast, Tzolis was described as an efficiency powerhouse, always aiming to challenge the opponents.
He said, “Guimaraes has added aggression and a progressive passer. Then you have Tzolis who is just effective and an efficiency monster, I love how he always looks to hurt the opposition.
“These are two excellent additions, and I believe they will continue to make an impact in the market.”
Arsenal will kick off their 2026/27 Premier League season against the newly-promoted Coventry City on Friday at the Emirates Stadium.