After finishing runners-up in the Premier League title race for three successive seasons, Arsenal have delved into the transfer market in a bid to end a drought that has now spanned more than two decades.
The Gunners have agreed terms with Brentford for acquiring Denmark international midfielder Christian Norgaard. The 31-year-old, who moved to England from Italy’s Fiorentina in 2019, could be a likely replacement for Thomas Partey. The Ghana international has been in talks to extend his stay at the Emirates Stadium but no deal has been struck yet, the BBC reported.
It has quoted sources saying that the Norgaard fee is in the region of £10m, with a possible £5m in performance-related add-ons.
Head coach Mikel Arteta has been quite active in the off-season and the club is also set to sign Chelsea goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga, a two-time UEFA Champions League winner, as well as Real Sociedad midfielder Martin Zubimendi.
According to reports, Norgaard was fancied to join Arsenal’s north London rivals Tottenham Hotspur with Thomas Frank, who moved from Brentford in the summer. The Dane is not renowned for his goal-scoring ability, and his six goals in all competitions in the 2024-25 season was the best return in his 14-year professional career.
But he has been a vital cog in the Brentford system and has made 201 interceptions since his Premier League debut in 2021, the most in the competition during this period. He is also second overall in recoveries and third in tackles won. These skills, allied with his experience of playing in the most intense domestic competition in the world, make him a good buy for the Gunners. He is said to have the ability to quickly sense danger and stub it out before it can threaten the backline. While Partey can provide more threat in forward areas, Norgaard is more reliable in defensive duties.
With Arsenal already having the likes of Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice in midfield, Norgaard’s arrival can allow them to venture forward more with the belief that the back door is being taken care of.
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Norgaard is also renowned to be a leader on the pitch and his presence has been vital for Brentford, for whom he made almost 200 appearances and was named captain in 2023. The team failed to win any of the four games he missed last season, as he was the glue holding the side together.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
