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Arsenal has already spent more than 87 million euros on three new players, and now the Danish defensive midfielder has arrived, whose transfer value is around 11.6 million euros, with the possibility that the entire operation will grow to 14 million. While that figure isn't nearly as impressive as some of the Premier League's other transfers, it comes at a special time — just days after the London club parted company with Thomas Partey, who is in deep trouble amid allegations of serious crimes.
However, although at first glance one might think that Norgaard is coming as a replacement for Partey, the situation is not quite that simple. The Dane comes to replace Jorginho, who has been an important part of the midfield for years. The player from Denmark, who played brilliantly in Brentford last season, should be an additional help to Martin Zubimendi.
An excellent booster for the midfield
Christian, described by coach Thomas Frank as one of the main drivers of his previous club, is known for his physical fitness and great endurance. He is among the top 50 in terms of the number of duels won, and he is also in the top in terms of the number of kilometers run during the match. Moreover, only one player in the entire Premier League, Chelsea's Moses Caicedo, managed to claim more possession in the final third than him. With him, Arsenal gets a strong player to put pressure on the opponent.
Although now he will have to deal with the ball a little more than in the previous team, it should not be a problem for him, because in percentage he attacks forward with balls more than Partey or Jorginho did. Also, with his 195 centimeters, he will be a significant factor in break situations, which will especially benefit coach Mikel Arteta.
What does the arrival of Christian Norgaard mean for Arsenal?
The financial risk with this player is small, so the club cannot lose much, even if the transfer is not successful in the future. Although he is already 31 years old, it is unlikely that he will be able to profit by selling him, but in the dressing room he will be especially greeted by Declan Rice.
The arrival of the Danish midfielder clearly shows that he does not see Arteta Rice as a classic defensive midfielder, but as a player who will have more freedom in the offensive, while Christian will guard the position more and help defensively.
In the end, even though the transfer went somewhat "under the radar", this could be one of Arsenal's more interesting moves this season.