Summer signing initially ignored agent’s call about Arsenal interest
When Christian Norgaard’s agent called with Arsenal’s interest in him, the player did not initially accept the call.
Photo by Yong Teck Lim/Getty Images
Christian Norgaard made the move from Brentford to Arsenal this summer, joining the Gunners with the chance to play in the Champions League for the first time in his career.
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It didn’t take long for that ambition to become a reality, with Norgaard making his debut against Athletic Club last month. Yet Norgaard admits that when Arsenal first made contact, he did not get the call back from his agent.
“I first heard about Arsenal before our last game with Brentford against Wolverhampton,” recalls Norgaard.
“I was actually sitting with a friend at home. I saw that my agent had called, and I was like “oh my God, he’ll have to wait until another time.” Then he wrote if we could just talk – “Arsenal called”. »
Once he saw this, Norgaard quickly called his agent back.
Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images
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“I said we should try to do everything we can. It’s just too big an opportunity not to try to go for it,” adds Norgaard.
“I was so settled with Brentford, where I had signed a two-year contract. This was a huge surprise for me.
“It was very motivated by Mikel Arteta. He thought I played very well against them and generally for Brentford.”
Photo by Eddie Keogh/Getty Images
The deal eventually went ahead, with Arsenal confirming the transfer less than two months after that initial contact between the player and the club. But things haven’t all gone smoothly since then, with a positive pre-season followed by an injury early in the competitive campaign.
Norgaard was unavailable for the first four games of the Premier League season, and he has since returned to find fellow summer signing Martin Zubimenddi established in his position.
Despite this, Norgaard made his Champions League debut, making his first start in the 2–0 League Cup win over Port Vale, and he remains in the Denmark squad for the October internationals.
Photo via arsenal.com
“In terms of playing time, I knew exactly what role I was putting in,” insists Norgaard. “The few minutes in Bilbao were incredible.
“They looked at me strangely in the dressing room. How can you be so happy for five minutes? They’re all fighting to start, but I’d never played in the Champions League before and with the Arsenal logo on my chest.”
Hopefully, Norgaard will get more minutes on the pitch this season and a trophy or two at the end.