Christos Tzolis is determined to help Arsenal successfully defend their Premier League title this season following his £34 million transfer from Club Brugge. The Greece international, who scored on his debut in a pre-season 4-1 win against Girona, is the first significant signing in manager Mikel Arteta’s effort to maintain the club’s top-flight crown.

Tzolis, 22, brings experience from winning the Belgian Pro League with Club Brugge, although he acknowledges that his previous team failed to secure consecutive titles after key players departed and the squad underwent substantial changes. “It was a bit like a new team to defend a title,” he said. By contrast, he noted that Arsenal’s core squad remains largely intact and that he is currently the only new signing, creating a more stable environment for a title defense.

The winger also shifted focus away from Arsenal’s challenge, suggesting that the real pressure lies on their competitors such as Manchester City and Liverpool to disrupt the champions' quest for back-to-back titles. “To defend a title, you don’t have to think about it. It’s more difficult for the other teams because the pressure is there, not on the team who won the title,” he said.

Having made the step up from the Belgian Pro League to the Premier League, widely regarded as more competitive and demanding, Tzolis expressed confidence in the squad’s readiness. He praised the professional attitude in training, highlighting the players’ hunger and shared mindset to compete for all available trophies this season. “When you’re an Arsenal player, you want to compete for every title that’s possible. It’s not only about the Premier League, it’s about all the competitions we are playing for,” he said.

Tzolis took the number 17 shirt at Arsenal, a number previously worn by Alexis Sanchez, who left the club in 2018. Arsenal have struggled to fill the void left by Sanchez on the left wing, and despite Tzolis’s arrival, the club remains interested in further strengthening that position. Real Madrid’s Vinicius Junior has been strongly linked with a move to Arsenal, and Newcastle’s Bruno Guimaraes is also reportedly close to joining the squad.

As Arsenal prepare to build on their first league title in 22 years, Tzolis’s addition brings fresh optimism. With only limited summer transfer activity so far, the focus will be on how the players gel on the pitch and whether the Gunners can withstand mounting pressure from their rivals.