Following a 3-2 victory against Kairat, Arsenal have booked their place in the round of 16 of the Champions League after not only finishing top of the league phase but also finishing invincible.
First-half goals from Viktor Gyokores, Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli were enough to seal the win for the Gunners despite Kairat bagging two of their own.
The focus for Mikel Arteta’s side must quickly shift back to the Premier League.
After a run of three games without a win, Arsenal must ensure the gap between themselves and Manchester City does not get any smaller.
The Gunners will be heading to a fired-up Elland Road to take on Leeds United, who are in a relegation battle themselves.
Nørgaard claims he is “happy”
Since signing in the summer from Brentford, Christian Nørgaard has struggled this season. With the Dane occupying a similar role to Martin Zubimendi, Declan Rice, it has been difficult for him to break into the side.
The former Brentford captain has only made 12 appearances for the Gunners all season, with only three coming in the Premier League. Due to his lack of minutes, there have been recent reports linking the player with a move away in search of minutes.
According to CaughtOffside, Ajax have been pushing for a move to bring the midfielder to Amsterdam, with Dutch sources claiming the player is open to a move, as he would be playing a critical role as the deep-lying playmaker.
Arsenal reportedly would want a fee of around £14 million to consider selling.
However, Nørgaard himself has rebuffed these links.
Speaking in the pre-match press conference before the match against Kairat (quotes via the Daily Star), he said: “No, I’m really, really happy here and the messages I get from the club is that they’re really happy with me as well.
“I would obviously love to play more minutes, but the minutes I’ve had so far I’ve really enjoyed.
“Also, in the competition we’re playing in tomorrow, I’ve had a few games, and for me it’s the first run in the Champions League, so it’s been amazing. Even though I’m not playing as much, I still try to contribute with everything I can around the group.”
Wise to keep him
When Nørgaard arrived at the club, it was obvious he was going to play a more rotational role as the deputy to one of Zubimendi or Rice should either of them be injured.
However, he brings qualities that cannot be quantified by stats. It’s his leadership ability that makes him such a useful player to have around the squad. While he was not the captain of a winning team, being a Premier League captain for two years is a solid indicator of his mental abilities.
Read more: “They have been the best team…” Arsenal backed for Champions League glory
With the club enduring a slight dip in the league, it is crucial that the leaders in the squad keep the morale together.
Arsenal do not play City until the 18th of April, and therefore they must keep a margin, even if it is a small gap between themselves and their Manchester rivals, as that game may be the decider.