Arsenal: Mikel Arteta hails 'decisive' summer signing after stellar debut | OneFootball

Christos Tzolis left Cardiff having assisted two of the Gunners’ three Community Shield goals

Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on new signing Christos Tzolis after his competitive Arsenal debut and revealed which “massive quality” the winger possesses.

Arsenal paid £34million, a Belgian Pro League record, to sign Tzolis from Club Brugge this summer.

The left winger has played for the Gunners in pre-season but made his competitive debut in Sunday’s Community Shield.

He registered two assists in a sparkling performance as Arsenal ran out 3-0 winners over Manchester City to win their first silverware of the season.

“He’s come into the team and really organically he’s fitted in,” Arteta said of Tzolis afterwards.

“He’s a really intelligent boy, and he has a massive quality, which is that in the last 30 metres, he is so composed to pick people out in and around the box or to finish.

“He has shown that two or three times, and he was decisive.”

The Arsenal manager was asked whether his quality in the final 30 minutes is coachable and whether he can get even better.

“That is a natural quality,” Arteta replied. “With more quality around him, the numbers will be higher. It is not a coincidence.

“He is a really consistent player in everything he does and, yes, I’m really impressed with him.”