Arsenal's Christos Tzolis suffers injury after defying substitution order

Arsenal winger Christos Tzolis has suffered a muscular injury while on international duty with Greece. The 22-year-old lasted just 18 minutes in the Nations League clash against the Netherlands before going down in distress.

The situation took an unusual turn when the attacker initially refused to follow instructions from head coach Ivan Jovanovic to leave the pitch. Speaking after the game, Jovanovic detailed the bizarre standoff:

I’m his coach, I tell him to come out and he says, 'I’m not coming out'. I think it was a scene that everyone saw, those who were nearby. I told him to get out, because I suspected that he wouldn’t have done that if he hadn’t felt something. Ivan Jovanovic

Jovanovic stressed that he made the decision based on medical advice, prioritising the long-term health of the player despite the fixture's status. Tzolis eventually relented, but his fitness remains a significant concern for Mikel Arteta.

This latest setback adds to a difficult international break for the Gunners, who are already monitoring fitness issues for Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard. Arsenal will now be hoping for positive news following further medical assessments as they look ahead to the resumption of domestic football.