06/08/2026 16comments  |  Jump to last

(Photo by Harry Murphy/Getty Images)

Mikel Arteta has praised Christian Norgaard for the 'tremendous role' he played at Arsenal, following the midfielder's move to Everton.

Norgaard completed his £7m transfer to Everton on Wednesday evening, signing a 2-year contract with the Blues. He will wear the Number 23 shirt recently vacated by departing Club Captain, Seamus Coleman.

The former Denmark international joined Arsenal from Brentford last summer and helped the North Londoners to Premier League title success in 2025-26, though started only seven games across all competitions.

Despite that, Arteta hailed Norgaard's influence in North London and said the 32-year-old was central to ensuring high standards at the Emirates.

The ex-Everton midfielder called Norgaard a 'glue player' in the squad and said his transfer to the Blues is a 'massive opportunity' for the midfielder.

"He played a tremendous role for us. When I brought him here, I said that he could be our glue player - an incredible capacity to bring people together, to keep the standards high," Arteta told arsenal.com.

"When he played, he had some really good moments as well, but I understand that to fulfil that role for a long period is not easy. He had a massive opportunity with a manager and a club that I know really well and we wish him all the best and thank him."

After signing for Everton, Norgaard said the 'positive things' Arteta had to say about the club and David Moyes influenced his decision. 

“I spoke to him quite a lot about the potential move. And he had only positive things to say about Everton and also David Moyes. He played for him for a long time and the whole experience he had as an Everton player seemed to me as if he had a fantastic time here and really also excelled as a player under David Moyes. Hopefully I can get the same feeling as an Everton player.”

 

Reader Comments (16)

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Raymond Fox
1 Posted 06/08/2026 at 11:24:53
All sounds positive, we have a glut of midfielders now though, some will have to go.

That's one thing in Moyes's favour: ex-players only have good things to say about him.
Tommy Carter
2 Posted 06/08/2026 at 11:48:53
He played 100 minutes in the Premier League for them all season.

Half of which were in the final game, when they'd already won the title.
Tommy Carter
3 Posted 06/08/2026 at 12:03:12
Raymond @1.

Rio Ferdinand wasn't when he imploded the most successful football club of a generation within about 9 months. Asking Ferdinand to defend more like Jagielka at Everton.
Allan Board
4 Posted 06/08/2026 at 13:01:58
Another old bloke.

We've got more midfielders than a baseball team. How about a couple of strikers, dreary?
Alan McGuffog
5 Posted 06/08/2026 at 13:43:30
Allan, most of us would welcome a decent striker.

I'd take issue with your complaint about "old blokes" though. Paul Power, Richard Gough, David Weir didn't do badly for geriatrics, did they? I speak as an aul arse of course.
Paul Hewitt
6 Posted 06/08/2026 at 14:00:23
Alan @5.

Can you play right-back?
Alan McGuffog
7 Posted 06/08/2026 at 14:11:26
Paul, in my playing days, I was more of a utility player. Shite in every position.

Very reliable, though. I always turned up.
Mike Powell
8 Posted 06/08/2026 at 14:31:20
Great signing, now go and get a right-back.
Tommy Carter
9 Posted 06/08/2026 at 15:12:37
Alan @5,

The good old Paul Power argument. Yes, he did do brilliantly... for about 6 months. And then, as the club was in free fall, it was mainly because we'd replaced brilliant players with lesser ones.

Despite Power being good in his brief spell, I include him in this. Kevin Richardson left as Power joined. A better player that was winning trophies and making England squads years later.
Peter Gorman
10 Posted 06/08/2026 at 17:33:48
Tommy C - it's a great yarn but alas, a complete urban myth
Tommy Carter
11 Posted 06/08/2026 at 19:39:52
@10 Peter

Like any time I suggest the club move on from younger players that haven’t made a break through when beyond the age of 20.

‘What about Leon Osman’

The one outlier.
Don Alexander
12 Posted 06/08/2026 at 22:50:14
Many football fans recognise that those employed in professional football as players/managers never, and I mean never, speak ill of other players/managers. They'd be bonkers to do so given that they themselves want to last as long as possible in professional football (and who wouldn't, financially?) so publicly slagging off fellow professionals is verboten.

Unless you're Roy Keane of course!
Brendan McLaughlin
13 Posted 06/08/2026 at 23:05:15
Don #12

That doesn t explain why, when their career is over, they don't come out and tell the "truth"

I'm sure any player "spilling the beans" would be paid handsomely by any tabloid.
Phil Roberts
14 Posted 06/08/2026 at 23:14:29
Don, or Roy Kent. Who?

Just got free access to Ted Lasso so binged watch all 3 series this week. Some truths - team in 18th, play Everton away who are 8th having never won at GP for 60 years, and they win. Even Fiction has us as a team to play when you are on a bad run.

But for those who watched - Series 3 and the baddie buys WHU. End of series he is accused of sexual improprietry. And this was 3 years before the accusations against Sullivan. What did the writers know???
Nicolas Piñon
15 Posted 07/08/2026 at 02:58:56
He looks similar to arteta or Mac allister, tidy and aware overall. Good signing.

If we don't get nor a fullback neither a striker (george apart) this will be a bad window anyway.

Just imagening mykolenko again passing half line carrying the ball gives me headaches gosh!
Steve Brown
16 Posted 07/08/2026 at 04:03:11
Granit Xhaxa syndrome.

If he still has the legs it might work out.

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