Speaking before last season, pundit Jamie Carragher predicted that Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta would prefer Kai Havertz to Viktor Gyokeres for the big games, despite the Swede’s recent arrival in a whopping $63.5m deal.
While Havertz subsequently spent much of 2025/26 on the sidelines, that prophecy was somewhat fulfilled in the end, with the German finally getting a nod in the Champions League final last month.
Gyokeres may have ended his first season back in England as the Gunners’ top scorer, in all competitions and in the Premier League, but that failure in Budapest spoke volumes for the number nine’s impressive performances.
It’s fair to say that he didn’t get much help from his closers, with this striker in need of a lot of service. Could all that change with the signing of more players this summer?
The big-money Arsenal target is now very keen to join him this summer
Gyokeres may have scored 14 league goals, but a lack of regular service was a clear problem, with Martin Odegaard and Leandro Trossard leading the pack in assists, although they scored just six of those.
|
Arsenal – PL site 25/26 |
|
|---|---|
|
The player |
Record |
|
Odegaard |
6 |
|
Trossard |
6 |
|
Rice |
5 |
|
Saka |
5 |
|
Timber |
5 |
|
Gabriel |
4 |
|
Martinelli |
4 |
|
Merino |
3 |
|
Havertz |
3 |
Only Declan Rice (17) and Bukayo Saka (12), have reached double figures for ‘big chances’ created, although that record has been belied by the brilliance of both.
The forward line, however, has not lived up to expectations, and there may be a change amid reports that Trossard is wanted by Besiktas.
A change will be needed at that left-back, so Arsenal sources are reporting that the Gunners are ‘in direct contact’ over a deal for Club Brugge star Christos Tzolis.
According to the report, the Greek midfielder is ‘very keen’ on a move to north London, with backroom staff at the club saying they have been impressed with him ‘for a while’.
The key factor is likely to be the price tag, although The Athletic’s David Ornstein reports that the 24-year-old could cost around £35m, ensuring that any deal will not affect his pursuit of quality.
Why signing Tzolis would be good for Gyokeres
As noted above, there appeared to be a lack of cohesion between Gyokeres and the rest of the forwards, with the Swedes actually only registering 0.6 shots on target per game.
The former Coventry City man has his flaws, no doubt, but it’s fair to say he was under-appreciated by those around him, unable to produce the kind of form that saw him score 97 in 102 games back at Sporting CP.
He may be licking his lips then at the prospect of a reunion with Tzolis in north London, with the former Norwich City man scoring a host of assists in 2025/26.
Working in the Belgian top flight, outside Europe’s top five leagues, offers a caveat, but it’s hard not to be happy with what he has produced, with the £35m man registering an impressive 23 assists in the Pro League.
In total, he created 25 ‘big chances’ in his wide role, while also averaging 3.8 key passes per game, a ridiculously consistent creative output.
For context, the man who led the way in the Premier League last season in assists was Bruno Fernandes with 21, although the Portuguese created 33 ‘big chances’ and averaged the same 3.9 passes per game.
For Tzolis to be on the same football pitch is really exciting, suggesting he could be the man to feed Gyokeres at every opportunity.
Equally, the Gunners’ target could also help ease the goalscoring burden on Arsenal’s number 14, with Gyokeres the only player to reach double figures in league goals in 2025/26.
Tzolis’ goalscoring record for Belgium has been impressive, with 17 goals and 23 assists last season, after scoring 16 goals and registering nine assists in 2024/25.
The year before that, the pedestrian talent also scored 22 goals for Fortuna Düsseldorf in the German second division, surviving that season on loan from Norwich.
On the evidence of the last two campaigns, in particular, Tzolis really looks like the complete package, someone who can reduce the pressure on Gyokeres in front of goal, but also provide the Scandinavian with a stream of quality chances.
This could prove something good for the Gunners and Arteta.
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