Tzolis: two assists on his Arsenal debut

With two assists on his official debut, Christos Tzolis played a decisive part in Arsenal’s Community Shield win, as the club beat Manchester City 3-0 on Sunday 16 August 2026. The London side’s goals were scored by Calafiori, Havertz and Ødegaard, with the Greece international involved in two of the three. At the presentation that followed, Tzolis lifted the trophy, claiming his first silverware with his new club only days after joining the squad.

The Community Shield is the English super cup match, traditionally played before the start of the Premier League between the champions and the cup winners of the previous season. Although it does not carry the weight of the major competitions, it works as the first official test of the year and as an indicator of how ready the two sides are. For a player who has just changed leagues, a debut with two assists in a final is the best possible introduction, since it immediately secures the confidence of the coaching staff and of the fans.

The success comes during a period of unusually strong Greek presence in the big European leagues. Tzolis, who began his career in Greece and established himself in Belgium, follows the path of a generation of players who move to top-level clubs by way of Europe’s mid-tier leagues rather than directly from the domestic market. The same day, moreover, was marked by another Greek distinction, with Nikos Siskos taking a bronze medal and a Greek national record in Paris.

For Arsenal, the trophy is mainly of psychological value ahead of the new season, which the team begins aiming at the Premier League title. The league starts in the coming days and will show whether the picture from the final reflects genuine superiority or the usual unpredictability of pre-season matches. For the Greece international, the issue now is playing time in a squad with very strong competition on the flanks of the attack. More sports reporting on the Sport page.