According to a report by Evening Standard on Sunday, November 1, 2026, Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has explained why he decided to start Christos Tzolis against Liverpool despite the forward having only recently recovered from a hamstring injury.

The Gunners secured a crucial 1-0 victory at Anfield, recording their first Premier League win at the stadium since 2012.

Kai Havertz scored the only goal early in the first half as Arsenal claimed all three points following a disciplined defensive performance against the reigning Premier League title contenders.

Tzolis' inclusion in the starting lineup came as a surprise because the Greek international had not played since picking up a hamstring injury while on international duty around a month earlier.

However, Arteta took a calculated risk by bringing the forward straight back into the team, and the decision proved worthwhile as he delivered an impressive performance.

The attacker forced Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker into an excellent low save with a dangerous effort. He also came close to setting up another goal for Arsenal with a well-placed cross towards the far post.

Explaining his decision, Arteta said Tzolis had shown good energy levels during training. He also revealed that Eberechi Eze had been managing an injury concern ahead of the encounter.

The Arsenal manager praised the club's medical and performance teams for their work in preparing both players for the important fixture.

Arteta described the efforts of his medical staff as incredible, pointing out the challenge of keeping players fit and available when matches are played every three days.

He also revealed that Tzolis was eager to play the full match despite his recent injury setback, although the coaching staff eventually decided that he had done enough.

The Spaniard acknowledged that selecting the forward involved taking some risks but was pleased with his contribution to the victory.

Eze's fitness concern also explained his absence from the starting lineup, although the England international was fit enough to be included in the matchday squad.

Arsenal's victory came at an important time after their disappointing Carabao Cup exit against League Two side Fleetwood Town in midweek. The Gunners were eliminated on penalties after failing to convert several scoring opportunities.

Arteta admitted that the defeat was difficult to take, particularly as his side recorded 27 attempts compared with Fleetwood's single shot on target.

However, he was pleased with his players' response at Anfield, where they showed determination and defensive discipline to secure an important victory.