Following the arrival of Martin Zubimendi, Arsenal continued their midfield rebuild with the signing of Brentford captain Christian Norgaard. However who’s the Danish worldwide, what’s going to he convey to the facet and why is he costing (as much as) £12 million?
Phil Costa reviews.
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Arsenal aren’t sometimes identified for doing their switch enterprise in a speedy or environment friendly method. They play the sport, negotiations drag on for the absolute best deal, however in sure circumstances they are often pressured into motion which is what we noticed of their pursuit of Christian Norgaard. In lower than six hours, exploring developed into closing an settlementwhich then led to finalising – earlier than the deal was introduced right now (delayed considerably by some private circumstances).
This pursuit was undoubtedly influenced by the departure of Thomas Partey who left the membership after failing to agree phrases on a brand new deal, following the extra unanimous exit of Jorginho who joined Flamengo in June to characteristic of their Membership World Cup marketing campaign. That’s a whole lot of expertise, management and know-how to lose in a key space of the pitch; which brings us to Brentford and their captain.
The Bees have been a breath of contemporary air since their Premier League promotion in 2021 and know a participant once they see one, with Ivan Toney, David Raya, Stated Benrahma and certain Bryan Mbeumo all leaving for charges considerably larger than what they have been first signed for. However there’s one thing to be mentioned for stability and Norgaard falls into that class, who has been a relentless beneath Thomas Frank – making extra appearances (262) beneath the just lately retired supervisor than some other participant.
Few anticipated him to have this sort of affect in England after a comparatively low profile profession beforehand, however his particular person improvement and talent to search out further gears – which led to him being named captain of the facet – tallies properly with Brentford who are actually firmly established as a part of the Premier League furnishings.
So what sort of participant are Arsenal signing? To summarise him within the easiest way doable; Norgaard is a primarily defensive, ball profitable midfielder. Like Zubimendi, he’s a quantity six (for each membership and nation) however operates fairly carefully to Vitaly Janelt and Mikkel Damsgaard at Brentford, with a good quantity of freedom and suppleness afforded between them to push ahead and rotate. He often performs in a extra conventional double pivot alongside Pierre-Emile Hojbjerg for Denmark.
Based on Opta, the 31-year-old ranked second within the Premier League for possessions received within the center third (112) final season behind solely Chelsea midfielder Moises Caicedo (130), and eighth for complete interceptions (49). Positionally, his finest work comes between the penalty space and midway line, though the midfielder has proven a capability to contribute in attacking areas and even press man-to-man which Brentford additionally tried beneath Frank.
Extra impressively, since his prime flight debut 4 years in the past, Norgaard has made 201 interceptions – essentially the most of any participant throughout this era. He additionally ranks second total for recoveries (844) and third for tackles received (189). His ball-winning type may be very proactive and whereas others choose to show extra subtlety of their sport; anticipating passes, extending legs round folks, the midfielder is not any stranger to a crunching sort out and getting caught in: simply ask Gabriel Martinelli.
For these involved about his age and whether or not his legs have gone (or are going), Norgaard has persistently discovered himself within the highest bracket for distance coated. Even final season he was among the many Premier League’s prime 20 gamers on this metric, highlighting a capability to cowl main floor with out challenge regardless of missing elite velocity. This can ultimately decelerate as he will get older and his function at Arsenal might require extra positional self-discipline, nevertheless it’s encouraging nonetheless.
I hear you. Arsenal want extra from their defensive midfielders than Brentford do, particularly in possession and that’s utterly true. Norgaard received’t be capable to replicate what Jorginho does on the ball (few can), and I don’t see him receiving together with his again to objective and evading stress with fast toes, or a no-touch flip like Partey.
One thing to think about is how otherwise Arsenal play in comparison with Brentford. The Bees are extraordinarily direct and successfully bypass their midfield in quest of transition moments the place Kevin Schade, Yoanne Wissa and particularly Mbeumo can run into area. This reveals up within the knowledge with Norgaard taking part in 35.29% of his passes ahead within the Premier League final season, greater than some other Gunners midfielder.
He’s much less correct however extra direct, which additionally utilized to a sure M.Zubimendi once I profiled him as nicely. Nonetheless, Norgaard was ranked tenth throughout the Premier League final season for passes accomplished via the traces which confirms his willingness to be courageous from deeper areas. The distinction in each groups’ kinds is one thing he must study and adapt to, however a participant of his expertise ought to be capable to minimise that preliminary transition.
After all, it wouldn’t be an Arsenal signing with out them providing one thing from set items and he greater than delivers on this division (pun meant). 9 of his 11 objectives for the Bees have been from set piece conditions and since their promotion, Norgaard has generated set-piece pictures price 10.26xG – with solely Gabriel (14.44xG) and Fabian Schar (10.55xG) producing greater than him, in keeping with Opta knowledge.
Paradoxically sufficient, he discovered himself on the scoresheet when Brentford beat a Covid-stricken Arsenal 2-0 of their first ever Premier League match 4 years in the past, rising highest from a protracted throw after Aaron Ramsdale Bernd Leno was caught in no man’s land.
Writing this text gave me a robust sense of deja vu, as a result of I really feel the identical method about Norgaard as I did when Jorginho signed again in January 2023. Within the midst of a really actual title cost, Arsenal had simply missed out on Mykhaylo Mudryk and Moises Caicedo; earlier than ultimately bringing in Jorginho and Trossard – and other people weren’t comfortable. Each gamers proved to be helpful signings regardless of the facet falling brief twice in three years for the league.
In the end, soccer is cyclical and alter is essential to maintain minds and motivations contemporary; new gamers additionally give you the prospect to evolve tactically and there was a way that groups had Arsenal found out final season.
Norgaard isn’t coming in to switch Partey, Zubimendi is doing that. He’s coming in to switch Jorginho and even then, Declan Rice might probably sit above him within the pecking order regardless of rising right into a extra superior function beneath Mikel Arteta. However there was a vacuum left in midfield by these two departures and the 31-year-old helps fill that void, offering aggression, expertise and plug-and-playability to a key space that possibly couldn’t accommodate a youthful participant studying his commerce.
There’s no have to overthink this deal; Arsenal bolster their midfield depth with a confirmed, prime flight participant for comparatively little spend. Brentford have the prospect to refresh their very own choices and send-off their captain after six years of exemplary service, and the participant himself earns the prospect to play (and hopefully win trophies) on the highest stage throughout the latter levels of his profession.
He received’t change our world like others have previously, however simplicity can typically be the last word sophistication.
