Photo by Dijks Media/MB Media/Getty Images
Photo by Dijks Media/MB Media/Getty Images
Christos Tzolis went off injured for Greece against Netherlands last week.
When manager Ivan Jovanovic told him to leave the pitch after pulling up with a suspected hamstring injury in the Nations League, Tzolis didn’t want to come off. Jovanovic had to insist, taking him off as a precaution precisely because he suspected something was wrong.
You have to admire that determination in a player, particularly in the modern game, but the injury is real, and it would’ve got considerably worse had he stayed on and played through it. Mikel Arteta obviously wouldn’t have wanted that.
Image of Mikel Arteta looking dejected alongside of list of players he has signed for Arsenal from outside Europe's top-five leagues
Credit: Getty Images/Shaun Botterill
The Arsenal manager and fans alike have all been anxiously awaiting news on the timeline since. Greek journalist Eva Bellou was first to provide an estimate, suggesting one to three weeks for a minor pull or three to six weeks for a Grade 2 tear. Now, further detail has emerged.
Greece sources provide timeline for Christos Tzolis recovery
Journalist Ryan Taylor has added some more clarity to the severity of Tzolis’ injury after speaking to sources close to the Greek Football Federation.
Speaking on the Seeing Red podcast, Taylor said: “I did do some digging on this on Friday, and sources close to the Greek Football Federation say 15 to 20 days. Arsenal say they want to assess him when he comes back to England. But either way, it looks like he’s going to be out for the next couple of games at least.”
15 to 20 days points towards the optimistic end of Bellou’s original estimate, suggesting a minor rather than serious injury. That is encouraging. But it still means Tzolis will almost certainly miss the Leeds game on Saturday and potentially the fixtures that follow.
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Arsenal were warned this summer about not replacing Gabriel Martinelli with a natural left winger. Eberechi Eze will likely step in for the time being, but an opportunity could be handed to Noni Madueke, who Arteta still views as a key player. The Tzolis injury has made an already thin position even slimmer at the wrong time.
Arsenal will make their own assessment as he returns. But for now, two to three weeks looks like the most reliable estimate available.
Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP via Getty Images
Photo by Glyn KIRK / AFP via Getty Images
Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images
Photo by Florencia Tan Jun/Getty Images
A graphic reading: "Which player will Arsenal most regret not signing?!" Image shows Morgan Rogers, Julian Alvarez, Vinicius Jr and Victor Osimhen.
Credit: Getty Images/Jacques Feeney/Offside/Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP/Diego Souto/Ahmad Mora