Tzolis substituted for Greece with suspected muscular injury

Christos Tzolis was substituted after about 18 minutes of Greece’s Nations League match against the Netherlands on Thursday after receiving treatment for a suspected muscular injury, leaving the extent of the problem and his availability for Arsenal unclear. Greece coach Ivan Jovanovic said Tzolis initially did not want to leave the pitch. Jovanovic said he decided to make the substitution after medical input and because he believed the issue was muscular. Tzolis eventually came off, with Giorgos Masouras replacing him. Jovanovic said the extent of the injury was not yet known and expressed hope that it was temporary. He said he wanted to protect the player and did not believe Tzolis could continue after the medical staff’s assessment. The coach’s comments describe the decision to withdraw him, but do not establish a diagnosis or recovery timeline. Greek reporting cited in accounts of the incident said Tzolis was expected to return to Arsenal for further assessment. That reported plan has not been confirmed by Arsenal in the material available. The same reporting said he was expected to miss Greece’s match against Germany, but his participation had not been confirmed.