Christos Tzolis
Christos Tzolis
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Players returning from hamstring issues are often managed carefully when the fixture list offers little recovery time between matches. Progress in rehab can bring a player close to availability without guaranteeing a place in the next squad. The latest assessment on one summer signing suggests the upcoming Premier League game arrives too early, though later fixtures present clearer opportunities.
The winger has been working at the training centre but has not yet rejoined full group sessions. Arsenal are unwilling to accelerate the process, particularly with another wide player now facing a longer absence. That caution shapes selection for the immediate games.
There is an outside possibility of involvement in midweek if improvement continues over the weekend. A more realistic target remains the following weekend’s away trip. In the meantime, others on the left side continue to feature regularly.
Christos Tzolis is edging closer to a return to action for Arsenal, though he is expected to remain sidelined for Saturday’s Premier League match against Everton. The Greece international has been absent since picking up a hamstring problem for his country in a 2-2 Nations League draw against the Netherlands in Thessaloniki on 1 October.
Tzolis has been completing his rehab at the Sobha Realty Training Centre but is still yet to return to full team training with the group. There is a realistic chance he could be back in the squad for next weekend’s trip to Liverpool. Potentially, if he makes progress this weekend, he has an outside chance of being involved at Fleetwood Town in the Carabao Cup on Tuesday night.
🚨BREAKING: Christos Tzolis is edging closer to a return for Arsenal & it’s possible he’s back in first-team training next week.
[@RyanTaylorSport] https://t.co/eUBLchg40D
— now.arsenal (@now_arsenaI) October 23, 2026
Arsenal will not take risks with Tzolis’ recovery, particularly after now losing Bukayo Saka to a quad injury. Eberechi Eze has hit a patch of form having scored two goals in his past three outings and is ready to start again on the left flank versus Everton. Max Dowman is also pushing for more minutes and looks certain to start on Tuesday at Fleetwood after netting twice in the third-round win at Ipswich Town.
Meanwhile, defender Piero Hincapie is back and ready to face Everton after returning to full team training. The Ecuador international was back on the grass doing some individual work earlier this week ahead of the Champions League draw at Bayern but did not travel to Germany. Hincapie injured his ankle during a bizarre incident in Arsenal’s post-match warm-down, also described as a training session, on the pitch at the Emirates after the 2-1 Premier League win over Leeds United.
Mikel Arteta said on Friday: “Piero, he’s trained with us and is available for tomorrow as well.” The availability of Hincapie provides one positive heading into the Everton fixture. Tzolis’ continued absence keeps the left-side options more limited for the immediate matches.