Arsenal have been handed a fresh injury concern after Christos Tzolis was forced off while on international duty with Greece, leaving Mikel Arteta waiting for medical checks ahead of the Premier League clash with Leeds United.
Tzolis pulled up with a muscle problem after another productive spell for his country. The Arsenal winger had recently scored against Serbia and provided the winning assist against Germany before seeing a goal ruled out against the Netherlands shortly before suffering the latest setback.
The 24-year-old is undergoing tests to determine the extent of the injury and is expected to return to north London for further assessment. Arsenal will hope the problem is minor with Leeds due at the Emirates Stadium on October 10.
His potential absence could open the door for Eberechi Eze to feature more prominently on Arsenal’s left flank. Eze has struggled for regular starts but could now become Arteta’s leading option in that position if Tzolis is unavailable.
The latest concern comes while Arsenal are already managing several fitness issues. Kai Havertz is recovering from a hamstring problem, William Saliba remains in rehabilitation, while Ben White, Cristhian Mosquera and other players have been working towards returns.
There is better news surrounding Martin Ødegaard and Declan Rice. Ødegaard has been recovering from his recent ankle problem, while Rice is expected to be available after withdrawing from international duty for workload management.
Arsenal will assess Tzolis after his return before determining whether he has a chance of facing Leeds, with the international break giving Arteta additional time before making a decision on his attacking options.
