Why Mikel Arteta has sanctioned Christian Norgaard transfer amid Arsenal midfield upgrade plan

Arsenal are set to complete the signing of Christian Norgaard from Brentford, who will join Martin Zubimendi in a new-look midfield for the club next season. Both Jorginho and Thomas Partey are leaving at the completion of their new deals, leaving behind many questions for supporters.

Partey had his most reliable season in an Arsenal shirt after five years at the club, but the club's contract offer did not meet the demands of the Ghanaian, and they were unwilling to raise it. Many have praised the swift action by the club to replace not just one but two midfielders in the side of great importance before the end of June, while others are less enthused.

It raises the question of whether Arsenal are a better side with Zubimendi and Norgaard than they were with Partey and Jorginho. When it comes to contract renewals of older players, it is fair to say the club have been royally burned in the past.

Whether it was Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Mesut Ozil or David Luiz among others, when the club decided to extend the deal of a player already on the downslope of their careers in terms of contribution, it simply has not worked out. It is important to note that contracts should not be given therefore on what a player has done but instead of what they’re expected to achieve for the years and financial outlay you’re committing to them.

The signs in both regards therefore lean in the direction of both Zubimendi and Norgaard. Looking at Partey, while he had a strong season, his output in a number of areas had visibly regressed.

His passing into the final third has slumped from 8.37 per 90 in 2022/23 to 6.93 the following season and 5.40 in the previous campaign. Whereas Norgaard for a less dominant Brentford side has improved this metric season on season in the last three campaigns (3.47 > 4.06 > 4.38).

It will be interesting to see taking the step into a side like Arsenal, who produced 293 more passes of this type than Brentford last season, how Norgaard's numbers are affected and then compare to Partey. Zubimendi is already producing 5.23 passes per 90 into the final third for a Real Sociedad side who made even fewer passes into the final third than Brentford.

I focus on the passing element because it is this which has been raised when it comes to both player’s influence on the Arsenal side. Defensively, Norgaard outperformed both Partey and Jorginho considerably last season, but context would advise that the Bees faced more attacks on average than the Gunners.

Not by too much though, certainly not showcasing the vast gap in the two sides' passing frequency. Arsenal committed to 6.84 tackles per 90, just 1.42 fewer per match than Brentford.

Looking at the reaction from the Brentford side of things, there is genuine disappointment. The player has been described as one of the most influential players of the club's modern history. As the club captain, he is a serious loss.

Links to Lucien Agoume, the 23-year-old defensive midfielder from Sevilla, have also perhaps played a part in the negative view toward Norgaard. Arsenal have been down the route of having a younger alternative option to their starting defensive midfielder before in the form of Albert Sambi Lokonga.

Players in their early 20s need that regular game time to flourish, and Agoume coming to the Premier League, without much guarantee of regular starts behind Zubimendi, like Lokonga, likely would have had his struggles too. While potentially not a home run name, Norgaard has the ability and availability to push the club in the continuing positive direction it is moving.

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