Arsenal forward undergoing tests after pulling up on international duty

Credit: Getty Images

Arsenal's build-up to the Premier League return has been disrupted by a fresh muscle problem, with Christos Tzolis now facing tests after limping out of Greece's clash with Holland.

The winger had been in excellent form on international duty, scoring against Serbia, setting up the winner against Germany and finding the net again against Holland, only for that goal to be ruled out before he pulled up.

According to football.london, Tzolis is undergoing tests before returning to north London, and now looks likely to be unavailable when Arsenal host Leeds on October 10.

Arteta's wider injury picture

Tzolis is one of nine players on Arsenal's current fitness watchlist, though the news is not uniformly bad. The same report states that Ben White has been carrying out his rehabilitation at Sobha, while Jurrien Timber has been rebuilding his fitness with the Netherlands, leaving Mikel Arteta with the prospect of two senior right-back options for the first time.

Cristhian Mosquera has also been training at former club Valencia during the break and has a chance of being involved. William Saliba, meanwhile, is said to be progressing in his rehab but is still not close to a return.

Piero Hincapie is managing a muscle problem that saw him left out of Ecuador's squad for friendlies against South Korea and Japan, which should keep Riccardo Calafiori at left-back. Kai Havertz's hamstring issue is not thought to be serious, but it opens the door for Viktor Gyokeres to make his first start of the campaign.

Declan Rice withdrew from England duty for load management reasons and has been resting, while Martin Odegaard appears to have shaken off the ankle knock he picked up for Norway against Portugal after a late Bernardo Silva challenge.

A chance for Eze

Tzolis' absence would hand Eberechi Eze a significant opportunity. The summer arrival has struggled for starts so far this season, but with the Greek international sidelined he now looks set to be the first-choice option on the left flank.

David Raya should be fresh between the posts, with Unai Simon still Spain's No.1 after their World Cup triumph, while Bukayo Saka keeps his place on the right.

The report's projected XI reads: Raya; Timber, Konsa, Gabriel, Calafiori; Rice, Lewis-Skelly; Saka, Odegaard, Eze; Gyokeres — with Ezri Konsa, pushing for an England start against Croatia this weekend, partnering Gabriel Magalhaes in Saliba's absence, and Bruno Guimaraes an alternative to Myles Lewis-Skelly alongside Rice.

Arsenal return to action looking for a response to the 3-0 defeat at Brighton that preceded the break. Leeds arrive at the Emirates unbeaten in the top flight this season, having won two and drawn three of their opening five fixtures.

The results of Tzolis' tests should clarify the picture over the coming days, with Arteta set to finalise his plans ahead of the October 10 meeting.