Christos Tzolis dazzles As Max Dowman CAN impress Arsenal

Arsenal eased to a 4-1 victory over Girona in their first pre‑season match of the summer on Saturday, a result that offered THINGS WE LEARNED about the Gunners' new additions. Christos Tzolis stole the show on the left wing while Max Dowman CAN establish himself in the first team, according to the match report.

The game marked Arsenal’s first outing since the Champions League final and saw the side missing Bukayo Saka and David Raya, but still fielding stars such as Kai Havertz and Viktor Gyokeres. Tzolis, the £34 million winger, started on the left wing – a position still being reinforced after the exit of Leandro Trossard – and took time to assess Girona’s back line before launching a curling strike that rebounded off Havertz and was credited to him before half‑time.

In the 34th minute, two unexpected names entered the fray: Fabio Vieira and Gabriel Jesus. Vieira, a player listed as for sale after returning from a loan at Hamburg, contributed pressing that helped set up Jesus’s goal before being withdrawn 29 minutes later, likely to preserve his transfer value.

During the second half, Viktor Gyokeres shouted “Max!” in frustration after Dowman lost the ball early, yet the 16‑year‑old quickly recovered to deliver a sublime through ball to Havertz, who faced the goalkeeper one‑on‑one. Later, with Girona’s defenders giving Dowman space, he drove to the edge of the box and stroked the ball into the net, adding a second Arsenal goal.

Dowman’s dribbles and forward passes continued to trouble the visitors, and his off‑the‑ball work rate improved markedly from the previous season, addressing earlier concerns about his pressing intensity. The youngster’s shift in effort demonstrated his desire to cement a place in Mikel Arteta’s plans.

The final whistle confirmed a 4‑1 win for the Premier League champions, underscoring the impact of the new signings. Tzolis is viewed as an attacker with growth potential who will be persistently at Arteta’s door, while Dowman’s performance suggests he may meet the fine margins required at this level.