Mikel Arteta has heaped praise on new signing Christos Tzolis after his competitive Arsenal debut, highlighting the winger's "massive quality" in the final third.
Arsenal paid £34million, a Belgian Pro League record, to sign Tzolis from Club Brugge this summer. The left winger had featured in pre-season but made his competitive debut in Sunday's Community Shield at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Tzolis registered two assists in a sparkling performance as Arsenal ran out 3-0 winners over Manchester City to secure their first silverware of the season.
Arteta's praise for Tzolis
"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."
Natural quality in the final third
The Arsenal manager was asked whether Tzolis's quality in the final 30 minutes is coachable and whether he can improve further. "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."
