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Christos Tzolis is poised to make his Premier League debut for Arsenal this weekend, a moment Stuart Webber will watch on with great pride.
Fresh from winning the Community Shield, the Gunners begin their title defence at home against newly promoted Coventry City on Friday evening, with Tzolis in contention to feature.
It comes just two years after the Greek winger left Norwich, having struggled to make the desired impact following his £8.8m move from PAOK in the summer of 2021.
Webber, now Head of Sport at RB Omiya in Japan, was the driving force behind Tzolis’s arrival at Carrow Road as he sought to assemble a squad capable of securing top-flight survival.
Five years later, the former City sporting director acknowledges that it was a case of the right player at the wrong time.
“Christos worked under Daniel Farke, Dean Smith and David Wagner. All three managers have managed in the Premier League. They couldn’t quite get the best out of him at that time,” Webber told the Sun.
“I don’t think any of us can say they are three bad managers. He was just the right player at the wrong time for us.
“It’s not Christos’ fault. It’s the club’s and the team’s fault. I think he was as disappointed as any of us. It didn’t quite work out. But I think we all take great pride to see what he’s doing now.
“It’s amazing that he’s now fulfilling his undoubted talent. There’s a real sense of pride because it backs up what we all knew at the time. It’s not anyone’s fault. This happens with young players.
Stuart Webber signed Tzolis for head coach Daniel Farke in 2021 (Image: Paul Chesterton/Focus Images Ltd)
“He probably would’ve been a signing; if I’m honest, that would’ve been more for an established Premier League club like Brighton. I think people really underestimate how big a step up the Premier League is compared to any other league.
“Luckily for Christos, it’s now worked out great. I’m delighted for him because he’s a beautiful human being and he has an amazing family. He deserves everything he’s getting. I really hope he goes and proves he can now play in the Premier League.
“These are nice stories, aren’t they? Much nicer than talking about a player who retired at 24 and doesn’t play anymore.”
Webber had long been an admirer of the Greek talent and fended off strong competition to bring him to Norfolk, so he is far from surprised to see Tzolis’s career now flourishing.
“Christos is not rapidly quick. He’s not slow, but he’s not rapid. He wasn’t a player who was going to take the game away from the opposition, so he probably needed to play in a better team than what we were.
“Christos struggled, and his loan spell at FC Twente did not work out either, but he went out again to Germany.
Christos Tzolis has enjoyed a fast start at Arsenal, providing two assists in the Community Shield win
(Image: PA)
“I think for Christos, I’m not sure he would have become the player he has if he’d stayed with us. I think he needed what happened next, which was a Fortuna Dusseldorf move,” he said.
“Christos always really appreciated that we were the ones that actually did take that chance. We still speak now, and he is very thankful.
“I’m still very proud of the team of people who brought him to the club. We were right about his talent and what he was. Unfortunately, it didn’t happen for us at Norwich, which would have been the perfect scenario.”