There aren’t many players who will be able to relate to a 20-year-old arriving from Greece to play under Arsene Wenger in one of the world’s biggest teams, but Stathis Tavlaridis knows all too well what Arsenal new boy Konstantinos Mavropanos faces in the coming weeks and months.
Tavlaridis, who joined the Gunners at the age of 21 from Iraklis Thessaloniki, remains the only Greek player to have featured for Arsenal and admits he was delighted upon hearing the news that Mavropanos had secured his move from PAS Giannina to north London.
Now 37-years-old and living in Greece after hanging up his boots seven months ago, Tavlaridis spoke exclusively to Goal about how he is confident that his compatriot will go on to become a regular in the centre of defence at Emirates Stadium.