Arsenal win 3-0 in secret behind-closed-doors friendly as Christos Tzolis bags assist on debut

ARSENAL signing Christos Tzolis shone bright during the club’s first pre-season friendly against MK Dons with an assist, just two days after his arrival. The Gunners, who were without all of their World Cup stars, dominated the Dons with a 3-0 victory earlier today in a secret behind-closed-doors encounter at the club’s Sobha Realty Training Centre. Arsenal signing Christos Tzolis shone bright during the club’s first pre-season friendly against MK Dons Credit: Getty Images – Getty Tzolis registered an assist just two days after joining Arsenal Credit: Getty Images – Getty Tzolis, 24, stood out on his unofficial debut as he started for Mikel Arteta’s side down the left wing. The winger created the North Londoners’ opener as he set up Reiss Nelson after just ten minutes. Sign up for the Arsenal newsletter Thank you! That was after the Greece international teed up Nelson, 26, for the opener inside the box only one minute into the game but the latter’s effort was blocked by MK Dons goalkeeper Craig MacGillvary. The ex-Club Brugge star, who joined the Premier League champions after a £35million deal that saw him signing a five-year contract, dominated the left wing throughout the entirety of the first half. Tzolis formed an impressive pairing with left-back Riccardo Calafiori down the flank. That led to Arsenal‘s second just six minutes before half-time with Ethan Nwaneri on target. Arteta shook things up significantly in the second half as he fielded a very youthful side. The Spanish tactician made eight changes, with only Kepa Arrizabalaga, Marli Salmon and Louie Copley remaining on the pitch. Most read in Football BEST FREE BETS AND BETTING SIGN UP OFFERS Arsenal completed their win with their first big chance of the second half when a fine chipped ball over the top from Demiane Agustien found Ceadach O’Neill who hit the back of the net. Tzolis’ fellow summer signing Islan Meslier also made his unofficial debut when he replaced Kepa between the sticks on 59 minutes. LINE-UPS: Arsenal first half: Kepa, Copley, Mosquera, Salmon, Calafiori, Lewis-Skelly, Nwaneri, Nelson, Dowman, Tzolis, Jesus Arsenal second-half: Arrizabalaga (Meslier 59′), Ogunnaike, Salmon (Julienne 59′), Clarke, Copley (Washington 59′), Ibrahim, Agustien, O’Neill, Harriman-Annous, Kabia, Mooney MK Dons: MacGillvary, Burke, Barlaser, Kelly, Wiles, Paterson, Nelson, Bramall, Hepburn-Murphy, Lewis-Burgess (Singh-Hurditt 46′), Ekpiteta Comment now