Having had a few weeks to settle into his new surroundings, Christian Norgaard can't wait to tick off the next of his Arsenal firsts when he runs out against Villarreal in our colours.
The Danish midfielder has appeared at our home during his time at Brentford, but he cannot wait to do so as a home player and receive a warm welcome from our supporters.
Ahead of the game, he sat down with our matchday programme to discuss how he's settled into the group, and what he now feels he will bring to the group.
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How have your first few weeks at the club been?
So far, so good! It’s been very easy to settle in; the group has welcomed me in such a good way. All the players and the staff have been so good, so I’m really happy. I’ve played against all of the players before so I know them a little bit, and I’ve played a couple of years with David Raya at Brentford, of course. Also we’re staying in London, so being able to actually stay where we’ve lived now for five years is fantastic. So it doesn’t feel like a big change for the family.
You had your son helping us with the content on your signing day – it must be an exciting time for you all?
Definitely. It’s a big thing, of course, both for my family – my wife and my kids – but also for my parents and my siblings and so on. We’re all enjoying this adventure and we’ll make the best out of it.
You are 31 now. Did you think that this sort of opportunity had passed you by?
Absolutely, I had a feeling that this ship had sailed in terms of playing in the Champions League. To be honest, I was already very proud and happy with what I’ve achieved in my career in terms of playing in more than 100 games in the Premier League and other things that I never really even dreamed of, but to be able to represent a club like this is amazing. I’m going to try my best to embrace it and also try my best to help with the qualities that the manager and the club have spoken for.
You joined in with the squad at the start of pre-season. How has that helped you settle in?
I think going on tour is the best way to really get to know them. I feel like I speak easily with a lot of the players, but we have a nice little group with Kai and Martin, and also Ben and Leo I get on well with. Then there is Zinny as well – he caught me sleeping a couple of times on the bus that you may have seen on social media! Then with Declan we have a mutual hobby in golf. We actually had time to play a round in Singapore, so hopefully we get the chance to play again, if we can find the time. I play off about 10 or 11 but from what I saw from Dec I think he’s probably at a better level than me.
Also in Singapore you pulled on the shirt for the first time in our 1-0 win over AC Milan. What was that like?
It was so special to wear the kit, of course, to see the name on the back of the kit as well. It was the first game for the away kit. It was really nice. It felt like a proper game: there was a lot of fans, it was a big stadium and it was against a top opponent. I really enjoyed it, even though it was only 45 minutes.
And how about training? Is there a lot to get used to?
It’s been tough, of course, because it’s a lot of new information. But I try to embrace it and enjoy it, take everything with a smile and be open to new ideas. It’s a new way of playing, but I’ve played in the league for four years now and I know the tempo of the Premier League. Then there are a few details that Mikel is trying to get me to think about. He’s a manager and a former player who’s been at the highest level for decades so this is a fantastic new input for me at this stage in my career, to get a manager from that level.
Do you think with your experience you will bring something off the pitch as well?
I think so. People have asked about how my role might change from being captain at Brentford. A lot of what was important for me at Brentford was what I did off the pitch. I might have a smaller role on the pitch here, we don’t know yet. I know the competition is higher here, but I’ll try and contribute both on and off. It’s a great squad and I’ll try and set some standards in terms of professionalism and the experience that I have. From what I’ve seen, the boys are also very curious to learn and to talk with me about different ways to improve.
Do you enjoy that leadership side of the game?
Absolutely. I remember being 17, going with the first team on a pre-season tour. I was so nervous, didn’t know who to talk to, what to say and what to do. You just want one of the older players to talk to you. It’s nice when someone older comes and puts an arm around your shoulder. So I had a lot of chats with some of the under-21s when we were on tour. I had a chat with Martin too about how it is to be captain here. There are different ways to do it, so I can try and help with what I know and my knowledge.
How much are you looking forward to playing at Emirates Stadium as an Arsenal player this time?
It’s going to be special, and I can’t wait. I will definitely have my family here. They’re very excited to see the stadium. We have got two big games against teams that finished in the top five in La Liga. It’s quality and it’s what we need. Look at the start we’ve got to the Premier League: Manchester United, Leeds and Liverpool in the first three games. So we know what’s coming.
What’s the main thing that you want to achieve personally from pre-season?
It’s a mixture of things. For me this has been a different pre-season than what I’ve been used to for six years. Being with the same team and manager, the ideas were already under my skin and I knew exactly how the pre-season would play out. Now it has been really important for me to filter all the information and try to make it as natural for me as possible to think about. To get some friendships and relationships on the pitch as well. It’s been brilliant to see how much talent there is in the squad and how good the players are. And then of course the fitness, which is part of it as well.
Finally, have you done your initiation song yet?
Yes, thank God I’ve done it! Every time after dinner when the players start to hit the glasses, my heart rate would start pumping. I was looking like the nervous boy in class! I picked an Usher song, Burn. It went well, I think – at least they applauded me. It’s the worst thing, it’s so much out of our comfort zone to be singing and standing on a chair with a mic in our hands in front of 50 or 60 people. That’s not the career we chose!
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