Arsenal’s purchase of Christian Norgaard in the summer transfer window surprised many, but now, there are no doubters left.
Signed for just £10m from Brentford, there was an element of surprise when the news broke that Arsenal were going to sign the Dane.
The 31-year-old former Brentford captain appealed to Mikel Arteta, and Andrea Berta struck a deal, a transfer that has, so far, been a huge hit.
Some might ask, how can a new signing who has played just 32 Premier League minutes be a hit? The answer: Ask Norgaard’s teammates what they think of him.
All things considered, tell us if Christian Norgaard has been a hit or a miss.
Arsenal signed Christian Norgaard after positive feedback
Leandro Trossard just dubbed Norgaard a standard-raiser behind the scenes at Arsenal, giving an insight into what the midfielder does in private to impact his teammates.
It’s not the first time that the former Brentford skipper has had his mentality praised, as Arteta has also spoken very highly of Norgaard.
“He’s one of the big leaders in this club,” The Arsenal manager said.
To some, Norgaard’s influence on the Arsenal squad is a surprise, but it wouldn’t have been for Arteta and Berta, who signed the Dane because of that.
The Athletic just compiled a piece specifically about the summer signing, lifting the lid on what motivated Arsenal to sign him above other suitors.
Arsenal wanted Joao Palhinha but signed Norgaard instead due to ‘tremendous references’ about the midfielder’s character.
It was for that reason, as well as his quality on the pitch, that Brentford did not want to lose their captain, but the Bees took the stance that they couldn’t stand in their former player’s way, so they didn’t.
Thanks to the impressive feedback from external sources, Norgaard became a Gunner, and Arsenal haven’t looked back since.
Norgaard’s Arsenal career could be about to explode
Arsenal are reaping the benefits of signing Norgaard, but for the player, it’s been a difficult period.
The Dane might be living his dream, but he’s not playing a lot, having dropped out of the matchday squad on some occasions.
🤔 KEEP or SELL: Should Arsenal offload Christian Norgaard this summer, or is he a valuable member of the squad?
It doesn’t seem to faze the 31-year-old, who is a model professional; however, his outlook might be about to change.
Given injuries to Kai Havertz and Mikel Merino, Arsenal’s options in the middle of the park are wearing thin, so Norgaard’s opportunities to earn more minutes have risen.
It’s a boost for the player and for Arsenal, who will be eager to utilise his experience and his Premier League quality.
Norgaard might not have been the most glamorous signing of the summer, but his work behind the scenes makes him as valuable as any other.
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