Tzolis (ARS, Midfielder, £6.5m)

Verdict: HOLD

Tzolis delivered an assist in GW1 and is fully fit, but tough upcoming fixtures make him a risky transfer in, though existing owners should hold for now.

The Reasoning

Fitness & Availability: Tzolis is fully available and has no injury concerns, having started and played 75 minutes in Gameweek 1. He's nailed in the starting XI for now.
Recent Performance: He hit the ground running with an assist and 6 points in GW1, a solid return for a £6.5m midfielder. This suggests he's immediately involved in Arsenal's attacking play.
Upcoming Fixtures: The immediate schedule is challenging. Arsenal face Aston Villa away (difficulty 4) and Chelsea at home (difficulty 4) in the next two gameweeks. These tough matchups could limit his FPL returns.
Underlying Stats: His ICT index of 8.7, with decent creativity (39.8) and threat (30.0) in GW1, indicates he's getting into good positions and contributing. However, his low 'Expected Points Next' (2.3) reflects the difficulty of the upcoming fixtures.

Risks

The primary risk for Tzolis owners is the difficult run of fixtures against Aston Villa and Chelsea. These games could see him blank, potentially leading to a price drop. While he started GW1, Arsenal's squad depth means rotation is always a background concern, though less so after a strong debut.

Alternative Options

If you're looking to bring in a midfielder at a similar price point with better immediate fixtures, consider options like Eberechi Eze (£6.5m) from Crystal Palace, who often has a good run of games, or perhaps a differential like Morgan Gibbs-White (£6.0m) if Nottingham Forest's fixtures are more favourable.

The Strategic Play

For managers who already own Tzolis, holding him through these two tricky fixtures is the sensible play. He's shown promise, and selling after one good game, especially with no fitness issues, is premature. For those looking to bring him in, it's advisable to wait until after the Chelsea game when Arsenal's schedule eases up, making him a more attractive prospect for a potential haul.

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