According to the British press, Arsenal reached an agreement with Brentford to recruit midfielder Christian Norgaard. This is considered a contract to help the Gunners strengthen the middle line.
According to sources, the two parties agreed on the initial transfer fee of about 10 million pounds, accompanied by 5 million pounds of surcharges based on competition achievements. The deal to bring Norgaard on the Emirates took place just a week before Thomas Partey's contract with Arsenal expired.
The Ghana midfielder, 32, negotiated a new contract to stay in Arsenal, but so far has not been agreed upon. Earlier, Lucien Agoume (23 years old) was also one of the parties replacement goals closely monitored by the Gunners.
However, the key makes coach Mikel Arteta chose Norgaard because he prioritized a player ready for the Premier League, despite the initial 31 -year -old midfielder not in the Gunners' long -term plan.
So what will Norgaard bring to Arsenal?
Norgaard was contacted to reunite coach Thomas Frank in Tottenham in early summer, and his statistics show why big teams appreciate this player.
The Danish midfielder has just completed the sixth season in a row in a Brentford shirt, including 4 seasons in the Premier League. Since the launch of the top tournament in England in 2021, Norgaard made 201 cut ball phase – the most Premier League in the same period. He also ranked second in the number of times the ball recovery (844) and the third in the number of successful balls (189).
Although not famous for his ability to score, 6 goals in all competitions in the 2024/25 season is the best achievement during the 14 years of his career. One point to note is that despite bringing valuable experiences, Norgaard is not a direct midfielder for Partey if the Ghana player left.
Partey tends to be stronger in the ball and intrusion, and Norgaard is a typical defensive midfielder, playing a role in shielding the defense, like a classic “number 6”. Statistical, Partey is superior to the ball scissors, while Norgaard is better at interception.
Norgaard is a modern defensive midfielder that can compete with Partey or bring more options for Arteta – helping him increase the depth of the squad. Norgaard has the ability to block the ball, cut the ball, the ball, block the line and dispute the ball. His presence can help Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice freely rise, focusing on attack support.
Norgaard can also effectively rotate the ball and launch passes facing forward. In a changing tournament like the Premier League, a player who has the ability to feel dangerous and good at regaining control of the ball is a must. His body and experience that has been verified in this tournament also shows this is a wise deal. Norgaard can be a very good addition to Arsenal.
Norgaard will also be perfectly combined with Zubimendi if the Spanish midfielder docked Emirates. They can play together if Arteta uses a defensive midfielder system and a number 10 instead of a pillar midfielder and two numbers 8. Zubimendi is the model of a passing player and an assistant, and Norgaard is more about to recover the ball, intercept and break the opponent's gameplay.
Overall, Norgaard has played a very important role in nearly 6 years with Brentford, with nearly 200 appearances in all competitions and was given the captain's armband in the summer of 2023.
The influence of the Danish player is clearly shown when Brentford did not win any match in 4 times he was absent in the Premier League season 2023/24. In the last season, “bees” only won 2/7 matches when Norgaard sat outside.
Norgaard is a glue that adhesion to the system as a defensive midfielder – protecting the defense, the ball and the attack. Without him on the field, Brentford was a much weaker team. Arsenal certainly grasped all the weak points of Norgaard, and this was clearly a wise deal of the Gunners.
