Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta reacted to the performance of winger Christos Tzolis following the 1-0 Premier League win over Liverpool at Anfield on Sunday.
The Gunners ended their 14-year wait for a victory at Anfield yesterday. Kai Havertz scored the winner in the 16th minute from a brilliant low cross from Declan Rice.
After the game, Arteta was asked several questions and one of those was centred around Tzolis, who made a surprise start after a lengthy lay-off with a hamstring injury.
The Greece international suffered the setback in the first week of October, and he had not played competitively in any form before starting against the Reds yesterday.
Despite this, the £34 million signing managed to play 84 minutes at Anfield. He delivered an assured performance, and Arteta was clearly pleased with the winger’s involvement.
The Spanish tactician said he was convinced to pick Tzolis after the energy he showed in training.
Arteta added that Tzolis did not want to come off towards the end, but the Gunners did not want to take any further risks with the 24-year-old, given he has just returned from injury.
Arteta told reporters: “Again, it’s the energy that he had in training. When I asked him the question how convinced he was, we had an issue with Ebs as well that it was incredible that he was in the squad today.
“I want to give credit to all the medical and the performance team because what they’re doing with those boys is incredible, every three days to keep everybody at this level.
“That’s why these are the margins sometimes where you win a football match and not when you have somebody available or not. They deserve that credit, and with Christos it’s incredible.
“He didn’t want to come off; he wanted to complete the game. We took some risks, and at that point we decided, now is enough.”
Tzolis got the nod on the left wing after Eberechi Eze had an injury concern. The former Club Brugge man capitalised on the opportunity with a credible performance on Merseyside.
The Greek attempted five crosses into the box, one of which almost led to a second Arsenal goal.
He also produced Arsenal’s best moment of the second half. Tzolis unleashed a superb low curling shot, but goalkeeper Alisson Becker made a fantastic fingertip save to deny him.
Tzolis has shown exceptional fitness levels during his short time at Arsenal, and he played yesterday like he had not been sidelined for several weeks with a hamstring injury.
Stats from Transfermarkt.com & Sofascore.com