Viktor Gyokeres has praised Arsenal's summer signing Christos Tzolis but rejected the notion that the Gunners are favourites to retain the Premier League title.
Gyokeres on Tzolis
Speaking to talkSPORT, the striker described Tzolis as "a top guy" and "a very nice guy outside and of course a very good player on the pitch." He added: "He contributes a lot and he's very good in his decision making. In the final third, he makes good decisions there and managed to get a lot of goal contributions. That's what every team needs and of course everyone that plays in our team wants to do that when they're on the pitch and if he does that, it's only good."
Arsenal began their title defence against Championship champions Coventry City on Friday night, following their Community Shield win over Manchester City. In Cardiff, Mikel Arteta handed a debut to £75 million summer signing Bruno Guimaraes, but it was fellow debutant Tzolis who impressed, providing two assists. The Greek winger carried over his form from Club Brugge, where he recorded 22 goals and 29 assists last season. No player in Europe set up more goals last season, prompting Arteta to spend £34 million on the former Norwich star.
Title race claims
With nearly all of Arsenal's main rivals changing managers and undergoing rebuilds this summer, the Gunners have been installed as clear early favourites to retain their title in 2026/27. However, Gyokeres does not believe his team have gone from "the hunters to the hunted."
"Everyone starts on zero points," he said. "I think it doesn't matter what they've done last season or the season before that or whatever. It's a new season; it's the same for everyone. Everyone's going to play the same amount of games. So, we have to do it all over again. We don't have to defend it, we just have to win as many games as we can and then hopefully, we'll be there in the end again."
