Manchester United legend Gary Neville felt Mikel Arteta was right to substitute Christos Tzolis in the side’s 1-0 defeat of Aston Villa as the winger appeared to be ‘struggling’ up against Matty Cash.
Tzolis has enjoyed a largely impressive start to his Arsenal career, hitting the ground running in pre-season before registering two assists in the side’s Community Shield victory over Manchester City.
The former Club Brugge man, signed for a fee of £34m, continued his run in Arteta’s starting XI in Arsenal’s opening Premier League win against Coventry City – and it was more of the same from the Greek.
He was the Gunners’ bright spark early on at the Emirates and took the shot at goal which Carl Rushworth could only palm into the path of Bukayo Saka, who made no mistake from close range to double the hosts’ lead.
Get ahead of the start of the season with our weekly football newsletter. Sign up now for free.
However, Tzolis was given his toughest challenge yet in his second top-flight appearance for English champions, with Cash getting the better of the 24-year-old for the most part at Villa Park.
Tzolis was already on a booking when he brought down John McGinn in the 37th minute, prompting Arteta to hook his new signing at the halfway stage.‘I’m not surprised he’s coming off and not just because of the yellow card,’ ex-United and England right-back Neville said on Sky Sports’ commentary as Eberechi Eze was sent on in place of Tzolis.
‘He really was struggling on this side.
‘Matty Cash was really aggressive against him.’
Arsenal came through their nervy start against Unai Emery’s Villa to make the all-important breakthrough on the hour-mark, with Saka scrambling home Riccardo Calafiori to double his tally for the season.
Use AI to go deeper into the stories you care about – powered by Metro and trusted publications.
‘It’s a brilliant goal, it really is,’ Neville said of Saka’s strike.
‘Arsenal are so patient, so trusting of their defence that they don’t need to rush. Calafiori does exceptionally well
‘Riccardo Calafiori just opens up his body and makes that little dart in behind, and then talk about putting it on a plate…
‘The run down the side of Aston Villa’s centre-backs which you must say there’s not been enough of.’
