Arsenal defensive midfielder Christian Norgaard has become one of the unsung heroes of the club's Quadruple charge
17:01, 10 Mar 2026
Mikel Arteta
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Denmark boss Brian Riemer has held talks with Mikel Arteta about Christian Norgaard's adaptability
Arsenal midfielder Christian Norgaard has revealed he's ready to help Denmark as a makeshift central defender.
The Scandinavian nation are now gearing up for their crunch World Cup play-off semi-final against North Macedonia after falling short against Scotland during qualifying.
Denmark are suffering from a defensive crisis and head coach Brian Riemer believes Norgaard could be the solution.
So much so, he's already visited London to speak with the player and Mikel Arteta about the potential change.
The 32-year-old, who has played at centre-back this season and also slotted into the backline at Brentford, is happy to comply.
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He told Viaplay: “It actually suits me very well. As a defender, you have a lot of the game in front of you. In the long run, it could be a good and suitable position for me. It’s nice to have a phase where I try it out. I will embrace and enjoy that. I am sure that it can be a good opportunity in the matches where we have some problems.”
Arteta has already utilised Norgaard at centre-back in both the Champions League and FA Cup.
The Spaniard was willing to exchange ideas with Riemer during his visit to England and such insight should stand Denmark in great stead moving forward as they aim to reach the World Cup in North America.
Norgaard said of the chat: “It’s always nice when time is set aside for something like this. We were just talking about this potential opportunity for me to play centre-back. It was great that Brian could hear what thoughts and challenges Arsenal have had.”
Christian Norgaard
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Christian Norgaard joined Arsenal from Brentford last summer
The former Bees captain has already earned 39 caps for his country, so is vastly experienced at international level.
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He has, however, only made 17 appearances for the Gunners since switching clubs last summer and is yet to start a match in the Premier League.
Arteta recently paid tribute to the veteran following his impressive FA Cup display against Wigan Athletic, stating: "He was exceptional again. I'm not surprised. The way he prepares himself, the way he trains every single day, and looks after himself and his teammates. When this happens, you can play in any context. I'm very pleased with him."
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