Arsenal’s deal to sign Christian Norgaard makes enough sense, until you consider who he’s replacing.
The 31-year-old Brentford midfielder looks set to join the Gunners in a £9million deal but, as talkSPORT’s Gabby Agbonlahor points out, he’s got big boots to fill.
Norgaard is heading to Arsenal but may well be their only defensive midfielder next seasongettyNot only has Jorginho vacated the centre of the park at the Emirates, but Thomas Partey will too.
And it seems the former England international isn’t sold on their replacement.
Agbonlahor said of Norgaard: “He’s an OK player. I get it for value, he’s a decent player, but you’re losing Thomas Partey.
“It just seems a bit odd. Arsenal haven’t been able to agree a contract with Partey, that’s what’s happening, so say it’s over money…
“You’re paying £9milion for Norgaard – just give it to Partey as the difference in wages he’s asking for.
“Why not just give it to him? You know what he can do. It’s very odd.
“Arsenal don’t seem to be shopping in the top shops like Manchester City and Liverpool. They’re shopping at Waitrose, Arsenal are at Asda.
“I get it, Jorginho’s gone and you need cover, but I’m sure Arsenal fans are looking at Liverpool spending £116m on Florian Wirtz and the money Man City are spending and thinking, ‘Come on, we don’t mind Norgaard coming in, but we need a top striker’.”
Now, some of you may be shouting ‘What about Martin Zubimendi?’ the Real Sociedad midfielder who is set to join for around £55m, but he still doesn’t cover the loss according to fellow talkSPORT host Darren Bent.
“I’m gutted that Partey’s going,” said the Arsenal fan. “When it’s him, Martin Odegaard and Declan Rice it looks strong, it’s three powerful presences and nice balance in the middle of the park.
With Partey following Jorginho out the door, central midfielder Zubimendi arguably isn’t a replacement for eitherGetty And then there’s the striker situation…“I like Zubimendi, I think he’s technically a good player, but I need to see when he comes up against the Premier League.”
There’s the elephant in the room, too, the vacant striker’s berth.
Arsenal have just Gabriel Jesus and Kai Havertz as their spearheads and neither are traditional strikers able to be relied upon for regular goals.
Two names continue to be linked, as Bent explains.
“I’ll feel a lot calmer once the striker is through the door,” he said. “Is it Viktor Gyokeres, or is it Benjamin Sesko? Once that piece is in place you start adding.”
Agbonlahor has some scepticism though, saying: “They need to get the striker situation sorted, the problem is Sesko is probably asking for silly money.
Sesko could be costly and not guarantee goals“The transfer fee will be high and Arsenal might be looking at him thinking, you’re 23 and you haven’t pulled up massive trees in the Bundesliga, do we give you the big money?
“They’re in a tough situation because Sesko and his agents will know Arsenal are desperate for a striker.”
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