Christos Tzolis injury: Arsenal suffer another huge scare as winger forced off early in Greece clash | OneFootball

Gunners star substituted after goal ruled out during Netherlands game in Nations League

Arsenal have been handed another new injury scare over a key player after Christos Tzolis was forced off early on international duty with Greece.

Tzolis started Thursday night’s Nations League clash with the Netherlands in Thessaloniki and thought he had given Ivan Jovanovic’s side - who stunned Jurgen Klopp’s Germany away from home last weekend - an early lead with a low strike that was disallowed for offside against Vangelis Pavlidis, having got the better of Arsenal team-mate Jurrien Timber.

It proved to be a quick-fire double blow for the Gunners star, who then went down with an apparent hamstring injury and had his shirt and hands covering his face as he received treatment on the pitch.

Tzolis was unable to continue and was replaced in the 18th minute of the match by Giorgos Masouras.

Early change: Arsenal winger Christos Tzolis lasted just 18 minutes for Greece against the Netherlands

AFP/Getty

Arsenal now face an anxious wait to discover the severity of the problem, with Tzolis having made an impressive start to life in north London following his £34million transfer from Club Brugge in July.

The former Norwich winger has provided four assists in his first eight appearances across all competitions for the Gunners and started all five of their Premier League matches so far.

There was at least better news for Arsenal in Cardiff on Thursday night as captain Martin Odegaard was passed fit to start for Norway against Wales after an ankle issue sustained in the defeat by Portugal and provided a superb assist for Oscar Bobb’s early opening goal in that match.

Declan Rice withdrew from Thomas Tuchel’s England squad last week for their quartet of Nations League games following the 3-0 loss at Brighton, while Ezri Konsa was an unused substitute for the Three Lions’ 2-0 win over the Czech Republic on Tuesday due to a knock sustained against Spain but could start in Croatia this weekend.

Kai Havertz returned early from Germany duty last week after suffering a hamstring injury against the Netherlands, while Ben White was not available for selection for England due to a groin issue.

Fellow defenders Cristhian Mosquera and Piero Hincapie have also been dealing with injuries ahead of Arsenal’s return to Premier League action against Leeds next weekend, while William Saliba remains sidelined with a back injury amid new reports from France that he could be targeting a return around November.