Greece and Netherlands play out 2-2 draw for Nations League on Thursday, but the match leave Arsenal with serious injury worry as Christos Tzolis comot early.
Tzolis, wey don start all five Premier League games for Arsenal this season since he join from Club Brugge, pull up during attack. He want continue, but Greece replace am for 18th minute. The winger receive treatment on pitch, pull him shirt over him head, and look visibly upset as he waka go sideline. Report say na suspected hamstring injury, and e go return to Arsenal for assessment.
Greece coach Ivan Jovanovic talk say he tell Tzolis to come out but player initially refuse. Jovanovic talk, ‘I tell him to come out and he say he no dey come out.’ The coach explain say na muscular issue, and medical advice push the substitution. Tzolis no go play Sunday game against Germany, according to reports.
Before injury, Greece don race to 2-0 lead. Fotis Ioannidis score with tidy finish, then set up Giorgos Masouras for second. But Tzolis also get goal disallowed for offside against Vangelis Pavlidis after he beat Arsenal teammate Jurrien Timber and fire home. Referee rule am out.
Netherlands boss Xavi Hernandez make triple substitution at half-time, and e inspire comeback in Thessaloniki. Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk mark him 99th cap with headed goal to give Dutch hope. Denzel Dumfries also get goal ruled out for offside when Dutch look like dem don equalise. But substitute Tijjani Reijnders lash in late equaliser for 89th minute.
Greece and Netherlands both remain unbeaten in Group A2. Greece still top the group after wins over Serbia and Germany. Netherlands, under new manager Xavi Hernandez, also need late equaliser against Germany earlier.
Ioannidis talk after match say, ‘The Dutch changed tactics for second half and we no respond well. But I believe we don move up one level and we dey improve every day.’ Greece defender Kostas Tsimikas talk say, ‘We dey unbeaten and we dey top group, so we must build on that. Disappointment dey, but we must humble and recognise say we play against superpower. The point fit prove valuable.’
Van Dijk talk about Netherlands results for international window: ‘I wish I get answer right now, but truly, e no acceptable. When we try play through middle, we lose possession too quick. E just no good enough for first half.’
Tzolis na second Gunners forward to get injury during international break against Netherlands, after Germany Kai Havertz suffer setback last week. Other Arsenal players also get injury issues for international window. Martin Odegaard shake off ankle issue to start and play full 90 minutes for Norway in 2-1 defeat by Wales in Cardiff. Ezri Konsa na unused substitute for England 2-0 win in Czech Republic due to knock from Spain game at Wembley. Kai Havertz suffer hamstring injury for Germany against Netherlands. Declan Rice withdraw from England squad at start of break. Ben White unavailable for international selection due to injury, along with Piero Hincapie and Cristhian Mosquera. William Saliba remain long-term absentee.
