When Arsenal travelled to Leeds on January 31, Christian Norgaard was not initially named in the matchday squad. Instead, he accompanied the main group in the unenviable role as Arsenal’s “spare man”.
That spot is sometimes occupied by a younger player or reserve goalkeeper, so for it to go to a 31-year-old full international is unusual.
That Norgaard is prepared to accept such a situation speaks to his humility. That Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta is prepared to select him there speaks to his trust. Arteta knows that if required, Norgaard will be ready.
So it proved: when Bukayo Saka withdrew from the warm-up with an injury, Norgaard stepped up to the substitutes’ bench. It presented no issue: Norgaard had prepared, as he does every day, as if he were set to start.
Being on the fringes of the first team has provided Norgaard with new mental and physical challenges.
Arsenal face the Denmark international’s former club, Brentford, this evening (Thursday). The midfielder spent six years in west London; the last two as club captain. Invariably, he was one of the first names on the team sheet.
Since joining Arsenal last summer, he has had to get used to a drastically different role. His 89th-minute introduction during the 3-0 win over Sunderland was only his fourth Premier League appearance. He has played just 22 minutes in the league.
Norgaard has only featured for 22 minutes in the Premier League this season (Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
Fifteen times this season, Norgaard has been an unused substitute for a Premier League game. For the matches against Nottingham Forest and Manchester United in January, he was not even named in the matchday squad — once again Arsenal’s “spare man”.
Were it not for injuries, Norgaard may have found himself in that position more frequently. If Mikel Merino, Kai Havertz, Martin Odegaard and Saka were fit and available, Norgaard might be at risk of missing out on Thursday’s fixture against his former club entirely.
But Norgaard was bought for a purpose — and one that he is fulfilling.
When it was confirmed that neither Jorginho nor Thomas Partey would stay at Arsenal beyond last summer, Arteta’s priority was to replace them with Premier League experience. Arsenal’s initial target was Joao Palhinha. They explored a potential deal with Bayern Munich, but the costs were prohibitive for what would have been a loan.
Arsenal scoured the market for a player with comparable attributes, quickly landing on Norgaard. Their due diligence provided tremendous references about Norgaard’s character. Brentford did not want to lose him — he had signed a new contract just a few months prior — but felt they could not stand in his way.
The fact that he came from Brentford was a bonus. “They’re one of the best-run clubs in Europe,” Arteta told a press conference on Wednesday. “They’re really smart and really good at hiring the best people, the best professionals and have great processes in place. You have to look to those places if you want to bring people who are better than you and bring perspectives to the club to help you bring success.”
Norgaard leapt at the opportunity, but it has meant a change of pace. Footballers tend to be happiest when they are playing football. Accepting a role where game time is likely to be limited is a considerable sacrifice. It’s more commonplace among players approaching retirement, but at 31, Norgaard has several years ahead of him.
But a move to Arsenal has also brought its benefits, beyond the obvious pay rise. He has spoken of fulfilling “a childhood dream” to hear the Champions League anthem, and may well end the season with his first medals attained outside of Denmark. Norgaard shed tears when he saw his son Elliot wearing an Arsenal shirt with their surname on the back.
Norgaard was Brentford captain when he joined Arsenal last summer (Cameron Smith – WWFC/Wolves via Getty Images)
Norgaard knew joining Arsenal represented a compromise. It’s one he made willingly and consciously.
“I knew that it would be a different role here than I had at Brentford, and I try to embrace it as much as possible,” Norgaard told a press conference before Arsenal’s Champions League tie against Kairat Almaty.
“Obviously, I would love to play more minutes — but the minutes that I have had, I have really enjoyed. Even though I am not playing as much, I still try to contribute to everything around the group.”
For many new signings, the intensity and level of detail in Arteta’s training sessions can be a shock. It took Norgaard a few weeks to get acclimatised, but his commitment was unwavering.
That attitude has earned Norgaard fans at Arsenal’s London Colney training centre, chiefly Arteta. “He is someone who makes all of us better every day,” the Arsenal manager said in December. Martin Zubimendi has labelled Norgaard the “best trainer” at the club.
“I do it for myself,” Norgaard said. “I don’t do it to get closer to the team. I do it because I feel better as a human being and that should not be affected by whether I start or am on the bench.”
His conduct, regardless of whether he’s selected, has been exemplary.
“He can play in any position,” says Arteta. “Whether he plays more or fewer minutes, his attitude is immaculate, a really good example for all of us.”
When asked in an interview with the Premier League in February to pick the player who makes everyone raise their level on a day-to-day basis, Leandro Trossard named Norgaard.
The Belgium international said: “He is a good example of that because he always wants to set a higher standard for himself on and off the pitch, and I think he’s a very good professional.”
“I do feel frustration when I don’t play, but that is normal,” Norgaard said. “It is about how you change that frustration to a positive energy you can transmit to team-mates.”
It is those days when Norgaard is left out entirely that are most difficult. “You feel a little bit helpless,” he said.
For a player accustomed to contributing, that powerlessness is painful. But Norgaard still strives to support in whatever way he can: by continuing to push, support, and keep training standards high.
Although Norgaard has been on the fringes of Arsenal’s Premier League campaign, he has made more substantial contributions in other competitions. He played the full 90 minutes in Arsenal’s first three Carabao Cup ties, playing his part in a journey which will culminate with a Wembley final on March 22.
He has featured in five of Arsenal’s eight Champions League games, including filling in as an emergency centre-half for the 3-0 win away to Club Brugge.
There may be more to come. The injury to Merino, who underwent surgery for a broken foot on Monday, has robbed Arteta of one replacement for Rice and Zubimendi. That midfield double act is of critical importance to Arsenal’s season. Norgaard could play a crucial role in lightening their load. The FA Cup tie with Wigan on Sunday is another game that has surely been earmarked for Norgaard.
Back home, the Dane’s biggest fan will be paying close attention.
“My grandma collects all sorts of different articles from different newspapers during the year,” Norgaard said. “She has done that for nine years, so I have a big stack of scrapbooks.
“It is the best Christmas present I get every year. The whole family sits around that scrapbook on Christmas Eve, and it is a very special moment.”
This Christmas, Norgaard hopes the scrapbook will be filled with pictures of trophy celebrations. If that comes to pass, a season as a selfless squad member will have been more than worth it.