Arsenal are missing the biggest Christian Norgaard positive

Arsenal defeated Kairat Almaty in their last Champions League league phase matchup of the 2025/26 season, and there were so many players who got a chance to shine who have been flying under the radar this season.

Nobody typified that more than defensive midfielder Christian Norgaard, who joined Arsenal from Brentford for mere pennies, as the Gunners managed to swoop Thomas Frank’s coach on the field with the Bees away from him, hurting rivals Tottenham Hotspur badly in the process.

Although Norgaard has only appeared in three Premier League matchup this season with zero starts, the Danish international has quietly been a huge positive in all of Arsenal’s other footballing competitions.

And against Kairat, Norgaard managed to draw the start from manager Mikel Arteta, and he went ahead and had himself a whale of a ball game to prevent the very game underdogs from scoring a historic upset over the title contenders.

What stood out the most about Christian Norgaard for Arsenal in this 3-2 win was how composed he was on the ball as a passer while still being active in defense and in possession (two tackles and four fouls won).

Most of all, though, Norgaard was more than just a rugged defensive midfielder with a coach on the field mind set. He was a progressive passer who completed over 90 percent of his attempts and tried to get through balls and passes to create clear cut chances.

Martin Zubimendi has been a great anchor partner for Declan Rice at the base of the Arsenal midfield, but Norgaard showed on this Champions League night that he is also a great, highly underrated midfielder who does not drop off all that far from Zubi.

There are better opponents than Kairat, obviously, and nobody is pretending that Norgaard is as good as Rice and Zubi. But because he really goes for it with his passes, he adds a surprising element to this Arsenal midfield and merits more minutes.