Christian Nørgaard notched a goal on his home debut, but he was disappointed with a display that saw **Arsenal**lose to **Villarreal**in ninety minutes and again in a penalty shootout. The midfielder mentioned "final execution" hurt his side, who have just over a week to iron out their weaknesses.
‘I enjoyed my first month’
Nørgaard is living the dream. He had signed a two year extension to his contract at **Brentford**in March, but he could not turn down the chance to put pen to paper with the Gunners this summer.
The midfielder is one of six summer signings, and he has appreciated the help of the squad to settle in.
“It's nice not being the only new guy. I'm enjoying that and everyone is so nice. It's been such an easy team to settle in. I enjoyed my first month and hopefully there's plenty more good months to come.”
The 31-year-old moved across the capital city for a humble fee of £10 million with the expectation that he would have to fight for his place with Martin Zubimendi. However, he started three of the last four fixtures in preseason, and he enjoyed his first appearance in red at the Emirates Stadium.
“It was fantastic walking onto the pitch, knowing you're an Arsenal player. I've tried a few times being the opponent. It's more fun to wear the Arsenal shirt! It was a big moment of course.”
‘We had so many almost-chances’
A 3-2 defeat to **Villarreal**spoiled the occasion, and he could not even enjoy his goal, as he turned the ball into the back of the net from a Gabriel Martinelli cross to cut the deficit to 2-1 in the first half. However, he accepts that his primary focus has to be on helping the group get closer to their goals.
“I couldn't really enjoy it as much as I would have because of the scoreline at the time. And also, not being able to win of course this game at home. But there's still some things that we need to improve.”
His main critique was a theme that has haunted **Arsenal**for the last two years under Mikel Arteta. Again, the hosts had more of the ball (57%) and over double the shots to their Spanish opponents (17 to 8). But both outfits had seven strikes on target, and the Yellow Submarine sank their opponents.
“It is just about the final execution in both ends. They had two or three chances, and they scored on all of them. We had so many almost-chances like that where we just did not execute well enough.”
The veteran is not worried right now. There is still time to make things right before **Arsenal**travel to **Old Trafford**to play against **Man United**on the first matchday of the new Premier League season.
“So that's what we have to work on before the season starts. If we get it right, I'm sure we’ll be fine.”