Tzolis impresses Arsenal fitness coaches, earns ‘Leonidas’ nickname
New Arsenal signing Christos Tzolis has made an early impression during pre-season training, reportedly finishing first in a demanding fitness test. This performance has led to one of the club’s fitness coaches nicknaming him ‘Leonidas’, a reference to the Spartan king from the film 300.
The Greek winger, who joined from Club Brugge for £34m, scored on his Arsenal debut against Girona. His goal, a confident strike into the bottom corner after cutting inside, provided an early positive sign for fans.
Pre-Season Performance and Nickname
Tzolis‘s strong physical condition was evident in a pre-season fitness challenge. The test involved running 20 metres and back, then 40 metres and back, and finally 60 metres and back, with each distance repeated five times. This totals approximately 1.2 kilometres, to be completed as quickly as possible.
The Arsenal player acknowledged that not all players had completed the tests at the time of his comments, but he was leading the fitness standings. He attributed his readiness to having already started pre-season with Club Brugge and maintaining his fitness during the summer break.
The ‘Leonidas’ nickname, given by a fitness coach, is fitting not only due to his Greek heritage but also because he is a direct replacement for Leandro Trossard, who departed for Besiktas this summer.
Adapting to Arsenal and Premier League Ambitions
Despite rumours of Arsenal‘s interest in other left-wingers, Tzolis remains confident in his abilities. He stated that his focus is on improving and settling into the club quickly, aiming to demonstrate his qualities in upcoming games.
The 24-year-old winger had conversations with manager Mikel Arteta, who advised him to continue playing in the same manner as he did at Club Brugge. Tzolis emphasized his desire to show passion and a strong will to win in every game and duel.
Tzolis‘s move to Arsenal marks his second spell in England, having previously played for Norwich City at the age of 19. He described that period as challenging, noting that the team was not prepared for the Premier League, which made it difficult for him to adapt as an offensive player.
He believes that his previous loan spells at FC Twente and Fortuna Dusseldorf, which followed his time at Norwich, were beneficial for gaining playing minutes and developing his game. During his tenure at Club Brugge, he contributed to 51 goals in 52 games.
Mentality and Title Defence
Tzolis has taken the number 17 squad number at Arsenal, the same number worn by former winger Alexis Sanchez. He noted similarities in their playing styles, describing himself as an inside forward who often moves centrally rather than a typical wide winger, a characteristic he also observed in David Villa.
Joining the reigning Premier League champions, Tzolis is aware of the high standards and the club’s ambition to defend the title. He highlighted the intensity and seriousness displayed by everyone in pre-season training, from gym exercises to recovery sessions, as a sign of the team’s high-level standards.
He observed that every player is hungry during training drills, indicating readiness to compete at the highest level across all competitions. Tzolis, who has experienced joining a champion team and then not retaining the title, believes that the pressure to defend a title is often more on opposing teams.
Source: skysports.com
