As of writing, Arsenal are finalising a deal for Brentford midfielder Christian Nørgaard. The Gunners have moved swiftly. Not long after links emerged, they had already agreed personal terms and a deal worth in the region of €11 million for the Danish international. An official announcement is expected in the coming days, with the 31-year-old set to replace Thomas Partey in the squad.
His imminent arrival has divided opinion within the fanbase. Several factors are to blame, but today we’ll examine both sides of the argument.
Pros of Signing Christian Nørgaard
Threat from set-pieces
Standing at 6ft 1in, Nørgaard doesn’t boast the most imposing frame, but he makes up for it with intelligent movement and timing. He scored six times and registered four assists last season – his most productive campaign to date. The Danish midfielder has a knack for arriving at the right moment to pounce on loose balls in the second phase of set-pieces. He is also a credible aerial threat, which gives Arsenal an additional option from dead-ball situations.
Premier League experience
Nørgaard has been a mainstay in Brentford’s starting eleven since their promotion to the Premier League in 2021. He later became club captain, amassing 122 league appearances in the process. With the departures of Jorginho and Partey, his leadership and knowledge of the division could prove invaluable to Arsenal.
Cost-effective deal
Financially, this transfer makes a lot of sense. Arsenal are set to pay around €11m, and the player will command significantly lower wages than Partey. According to Capology, Partey earns £200,000 per week, while Nørgaard was reportedly earning just £40,000 at Brentford. His arrival offers value for money and allows the club to direct resources toward more urgent areas like attack.
Cons of Signing Christian Nørgaard
Age and resale value
Nørgaard turned 31 in March and has little room for growth or resale potential. From a squad-building perspective, this may hinder Arsenal’s long-term strategy as they aim for sustainability and continuity.
A stop-gap option
Even before Partey’s exit, Arsenal were expected to bring in another midfielder alongside Martin Zubimendi. Ideally, this would have been a younger player to add long-term depth. Nørgaard provides short-term cover, but the club will likely be back in the market within a season or two for a more permanent solution.
Fit within Arsenal’s possession-based system
While Nørgaard is an intelligent ball-winner, his passing statistics raise concerns. He averages 37.16 passes per 90 (41st percentile), with 81.6% passing accuracy (36th percentile) and just 4.37 passes into the final third per 90 (58th percentile). These numbers are underwhelming for a side that thrives on ball retention.
However, Brentford’s counter-attacking style may be a factor. Nørgaard is capable of switching between short and long passes, and it’s possible we will see improved numbers in Arsenal’s more possession-oriented system.
Final Thoughts
Nørgaard’s arrival might not be headline-grabbing, but it makes sense as a cost-effective, experienced addition to the squad. Whether he fits seamlessly into Mikel Arteta’s system remains to be seen, but as a squad player, he offers depth and reliability.
What do you think, Gooners?
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Norgaard’s also an excellent passer, able to ping the ball 50/60 yards with pin point accuracy.
Really? 😳
Yes, Really.
I would have thought that’s expected from a midfielder competing at top level, but what matters most is if it breaks defensive lines or beat opposition defenders upon getting to a team mate “with pin point accuracy” such the likes of KDB,Özil,fabregas or Rodri? I doubt it.
“pin point accuracy” is my ever so slight exaggeration. I do like to hype our players, but he is a very good and quite accurate long range passer.
Partey was very good in tight-spaces and could play RB
I don’t think Norgaard can do that, but his aerial ability would likely come in handy in set-pieces
@Gai, I like Norgaard forward pass abilities and his recovery skill set would be needed to regain possession. He is a bit more athletic than Merino and Setpiece threat is a big plus. Being a former Captain would help on the pitch in organizing the midfield.
Considering the way he played for Brentford, think this guy would turn out to be very important player for Arsenal.
I think he’s like the right-footed version of Xhaka and we know that Xhaka isn’t suitable for the CDM position because of his bad performances in tight spaces
I don’t think Partey could play at RB, even though MA put him there.
Partey played the conventional RB role decently for Atletico Madrid and Arsenal, despite not being an overlapping one
Partey has played reasonably well at RB. The problem is that whether he plays in defence or MF he loses concentration at times. He has also become more suspect in transitions.
A number of people have highlighted his mistakes when he’s played at RB but overlook those he’s made when he’s been in MF.
Never a starter in the danish national team. 31 years old. Addicted to sleeping pills for a number of years. Average at best. Very poor signing.
Yet he played in a very successful team in the best league in Europe!!
Wouldn’t he have failed a drugs test if he was addicted to sleeping pills and if you know about it, wouldn’t the officials know as well?
Tom, he’s not addicted to them now after having sessions with a Brentford sleeping coach by the name of Anna West.
While he may not be a starter for Denmark, he still has over 30 caps for his country.
This is meant as no disrespect towards Christian Norgaard but from a footballing ethos point of view this purchase makes no sense. He is a completely different profile to Zubimendi or Partey, and therefore suggests that our B Plan, if there even is one, is to lump it into the box and hope for the best.
Should Zubimendi suffer a long-term injury, I can envision Norgaard being the go-to fill-in, which begs the question, what’s the point of buying him? Jorginho made sense, as he was a similar profile to Partey, if past his best. But Norgaard is completely different!
Moreover, what does Norgaard bring that couldn’t be replicated by playing Declan Rice or Merino at CDM should Zubimendi be unavailable for an extended period? Declan is superior in every aspect of the game and Merino pretty similar, so again, what’s the point. If we wanted to better replicate what Zubimendi does we would be better of keeping Zinchenko and playing him there.
It’s a moot point because the player has joined and I hope he does well, but I cannot see the value of this move for the club. If it was a purely financial decision, then keeping Partey for another season wouldn’t have been any more expensive, assuming of course we could have got him to sign for one season.
It’s a 4/10 signing for me. And it only gets the 4 because he is a decent player.
In 2 years when he likely leaves (maybe 3?) then Nwaneri will be 20 and Dowman 18, both potentially ready come into the first team (well Nwaneri is already there). So that could be why they didn’t feel the need for a player that could develop – they already have them!
That’s the point!
Nwaneri and Dowman are more specialized as attacking midfielders, rather than central or defensive midfielders, but you’re definitely on the right track. The club is just biding their time for a younger player to add.
Now they’ve acquired an elite defensive midfielder in Zubi and some proven backup in Nørgaard, the rest of this summer is all about the forward positions. They’re saving their powder for those.
Next summer – they will have less need to find expensive forwards, and good coverage across almost every other position, so will be able to go hunt for another top younger central / defensive midfielder. Mark my words 🙂
This is a signing mid table teams should be making and when considering the world class player he’s replacing it’s like a slap in the face to hard core fans who travel hundreds of miles to watch Arsenal play ball,
But it is what it is, Norgaard signing won’t inspire confidence as Liverpool signing of Florians Wirtz,, maybe what it does is buy time as we search for quality replacement as Arsenal is definitely worst off without the Ghanaian international.
I really don’t know what’s wrong with these so called arsenal fanatics. When arsenal was quiet in the transfer window. They were everywhere talking BS as to what the club needs and all that. Now they ve signed a replacement to someone who is leaving the club and they are still grumbling over it. Guess you can’t please everyone as per say🙄🙄🙄🙄
If you come home to find your partner sold your telly but replaced it with an ironing board, would you be happy? People are entitled to their opinions, whether you agree with them or not.
What happens to this forum if we call for silencing people with different viewpoints. Discussion dies in the presence of universal agreement.
When arsenal buy a captain of Brentford, it’s a bad buy, when Man city buys a player from Wolverhampton, it is praised. Zubimendi is a good addition but the problem is that arsenal fans like whining a lot. The fans are actually the problem. For every problem, there is long term, short term and middle term solution. Even in a company there is a salary cap and if one needs more than what the organisation can provide, he is bound to go elsewhere. English media always speaks negatively about arsenal. I have watched even Witz and am yet to be convinced if he matches the price. The season will determine the best buy not pundits, media or fans.
Why are you bringing City into this? They bought a player specifically for a role that Pep wants to fill. We bought a 31 year old that can’t do anything the players we already have can do but better.
You failed to actually point out how I’m wrong, instead just preferring to whine about Arsenal fans not being happy. Is it any wonder? We let someone leave for free and then spent the money that could have kept him on an equally old but less good player that doesn’t fit our style of play. Where is the positivity to be had from that?
Surely Norgaard is replacing Jorginho, as Zubimendi is the one that is replacing Partey.
Yes, everyone keeps saying that but it just isn’t true. I’ll say it again, if Zubimendi gets a serious injury are you happy or can you see Norgaard playing 30-40+ games as the main midfield linchpin? Jorginho, whilst past his best was at least a similar type of player to Partey. Norgaard is a stop gap we don’t need. Zinchenko is a better technician, Merino is younger and better at all the thing Norgaard is good at and Rice is better at everything, especially defending. So where is the value?
So if Norgaard is Parteys replacement, who is Zubimendi replacing, Jorginho ?
As for Zinchenko, Merino and Rice, obviously Mikel wants them to play in other positions, and that’s if Zinchenko stays.
You’re getting hung up on who’s replacing who and it’s irrelevant. We no longer have a like for like backup if our first choice DM picks up a bad injury. This is why it would have made much more sense to just give Partey whatever he wants instead of shopping at Poundland again.
You gonna be happy with Norgaard anchoring the midfield for half the season or more? It’s an awful transfer decision. This is one time they should have bought for the future instead of dishing out a retirement plan to an okay midfielder.
This transfer makes no sense from a footballing or financial point of view.
Zinchenko is a better technician is he good defensively?Miles Lewis Skelly is a defensive midfielder playing LB to gain experience if Zubimendi is out for the longer time we have so many options MLS can play there,DR,can play there,MM can play there Norgaard was signed to fill Jorginho’s slot on cheaper wages because we must stay within FFP rules and also for the LB position JT can deputise for MLS while BW plays RB and TT deputises for him,Norgaard was simply signed for the squad depth and short term purposes based on his experience, leadership and profile he’s good at ball winning he’ll put in a shift in the FA, Capital one etc
If I get what you are saying correctly, he will be replacing Jorginho on the bench. This is simply why I agreed with Ben. This is a wrong acquisition.
We need a young technical and energetic youngster like Agoumé to learn and ready to replace Zubimendi whenever he decides to leave us. Buying the guy will put us in the same situation in future where we need to replace two players for the same position. Instead of buying him it will make more sense to buy specialized LB and let Lewis-Kelly fill in that position
Are u the coach did Arteta told u why he choose Norgaard, pls allow coach to do his work pls
Arsenal should have done better to retain Party and ease in Zebimendi who is coming into a new club and league. I hope this decision doesn’t come back to bite the club.
How are you so sure Partey would have stayed fit next season to help ease Zubimendi in? The issue is he’s an injury prone player, you can’t bank on him. Yeah he tried to stay fit last season, but who knows.
And how do we know Zubimendi won’t do a Timber and suffer a serious injury early on? My point is, if that occurs is Norgaard really the man you want anchoring the midfield for large parts of the season? Personally, if Zubimendi does get an injury I want Merino or Zinchenko alongside Rice. Norgaard gives us nothing.
But your not the manager. Norgaard has done a good job for Brentford.
Excatly!! And he has played big minutes – the guy is practically never injured. Some people (not you, of course) should chech his stats before complaining, they are not that much different from Partey´s. Zubi will be playing lions share of the DM`s minutes – norgaard the rest and yes, he is more than capable doing just that. He didn´t cost much and will have low salary. We need money for other signings this summer so this will help. Norgaard will go in 1-2 years (probably…) and then we can get a better number 6. No need to invest more now, we got Zubi coming in + MLS can cover if injury situation demands. All in all quite good signing considering all angles. Our midfield will be brilliant this season.
And it’s an opinion not to support an opinion….. I guess 🤔🤔
Totally. Be boring if we all agreed.
Ben,
If I come home and found my partner had swapped my TV for an ironing board, I’d be shocked as I haven’t got a partner.🤣😂👍
Life is like a game of Bridge, Derek. When you’ve got a bloody good hand you don’t need a partner 😂
Ben,
Very good. 😂🤣👍
Can’t get my head around this signing. I think we could’ve done better. Hopefully he comes good.
Glad someone gets it. For what it represents this is a worse signing that Sterling. At he was an elite player in a position we needed. Norgaard is no better than Merino who we already own, and he’s not on loan, we actually bought him!! Head’s gone.
Here you are going overboard. At this time one can speculate how Nørgaard will turn out.
We actually know how Sterling turned out.
Exactly bro. Just saw City add Reijnders to a star studded midfield that consist Rodri,Nico Gonzalez, Kovacic, Gundogan etc etc to their ranks with the aim of replacing a departed player. Not sure why we had to consider a player of Norgaards profile if you are to consider who we are up against. So disappointed TBH.
I was thinking the same thing: age. He can’t sign a long-term contract. Why don’t we bring in a younger alternative?
Probably because the younger alternative they were said to also be looking at as going to be at least twice as expensive, and is untested in the Premier League. Saves money for the forward positions we need more urgently.
Nørgaard might not be the most glamorous signing, but he performed well for Brentford. Had the same exact number of interceptions last season as Moises Caicedo, who cost ten times as much… Tackled about as much as Guimaraes (79/83) – halfway between Partey (79/89) and Gravenberch (79/69.
Something is not right if a player had to tackle too much.
The great Palo Maldini famously said “If I have to make a tackle, I’ve already made a mistake”
Leah Williams also rarely tackles.
In total agreement. 👍
It’s definitely a well thought out move. He is an already established player with PL experience and cost effective as well. About whether he will hit the ground running that is left to be seen. But it’s a smart move from Arsenal
An extremely sensible signing. PL ready, experienced, leadership qualities and an excellent and reliable addition to the squad. A player who will thrive on the extra possession and hopefully, add a bit of speed into the defense to attack transition, which was sorely lacking with Partey.
I think dissatisfaction is a human quality.
I could be wrong.
But I do think:
Partey left Arsenal because of more money;
Nørgaard came to Arsenal because of more money;
Arsenal made trade because of more money.
Money is real and it’s effect tends to be observable when applied in lots of areas.
Partey might have been let go because the financial experts advised it be so.
It may be:
he does not sell enough merchandise to conjure the fraction of money The Club is going to pay him if he signs an extension
his image rights might be low on revenue
sponsorship deals may not be mega . . .
Money owns the market so with limited resources you get as much as you get.
There is play and there is money.
Combining the two brings SHOW BUSINESS.
Maybe not a popular opinion but I classify football and every game & sport show business if it is on broadcast.
Football or soccer is play; but at this level, play is not just play. It is money.
When play goes on sale . . . buyers!
Well, for some it is just a game.
Not all birds fly.
Blockbuster signings are wanted but wishes are not always guaranteed to be granted – like some wanted Mudryk but clueless Arteta signed Trossard – you know.
😁
Some expectations exceeded.
In some cases – disappointment.
Dependent upon the observer; some may be described as irrelevant.
On a final note:
I would like to wish Partey more money wherever he goes; and I would also like to welcome Nørgaard and wish him more money here.
But I do have a feeling my wishes are being misappropriated because there is nothing (officially) official, yet.
Seemingly certain the deed is done . . .
But for now – until it is confirmed – it is rumour.
Even Zubimendi.
Rumour.
RUMOUR.
😉
Nordgaard could be a keyplayer. One that comes on for Zubi with 10 mins left when we have a lead. He’d shore up the defense and give Zubi vital rest…..however Arteta forever plays Saka when we have a late lead. Kroenke needs to hire a coach whose job is to remind Arteta when to start subbing off his overplayed starters when we have a late lead.
Much Ado about Ability_ give me some of that Brendford SPIRIT! He’ll shine whether we win trophies is another matter. That team has got some mental liabilities.