Christian Nørgaard is set to join Arsenal as the club moves to strengthen its midfield following the departure of Jorginho and the imminent exit of Thomas Partey.
The Danish midfielder will complete a €11 million move from London rivals Brentford this week and become only the fourth of his countrymen to play for the Gunners, after John Jensen, Sebastian Svard, and Niklas Bendtner.
His signing is not one of the most exciting the club would make this summer. Also adding that it was unexpected. Yet, the breakdown of new contract talks with Thomas Partey has made this deal a necessity.
Partey’s looming departure has sparked criticism, with many fans and pundits arguing the club should have met his contract demands, after all, the Ghanaian was a key figure throughout the recently concluded season, proving indispensable for Mikel Arteta’s side.
He featured in 52 matches, more than any other outfield player except Leandro Trossard. Partey also amassed 3,945 minutes, of which only William Saliba and Declan Rice managed more among outfield players, underlining the Ghanaian’s influence.
His contract with Arsenal expires at the end of the month, and despite earlier rounds of discussions over a renewal, both parties have agreed that parting ways is the best decision.
Arsenal were keen to keep Thomas Partey, and the midfielder also wanted to stay. However, negotiations over a new deal failed to yield an agreement. Partey wanted an increment on the £200,000 per week, a figure set in his original contract signed five years ago when Arsenal activated his £45 million release clause at Atlético Madrid.
While the club had high hopes for him, Partey’s early years in North London were marred by persistent injuries, limiting his impact and consistency during a critical rebuilding phase.
Arsenal had initially been reluctant to offer a new contract for several reasons, one of them being a preference for Jorginho, who is viewed as a more fitting option for their priorities. But the Italian’s decision to join Flamengo forced a reconsideration.
Partey was lined up to fill the Italian’s role as backup to Martin Zubimendi, who is expected to be announced soon as Arsenal’s latest midfield addition and become Partey’s very own replacement.
Despite this shift in stance, negotiations broke down as the club was unwilling to meet Partey’s demands. The Ghanaian had hoped for improved terms, but Arsenal were not prepared to raise his wages, especially given their long-term squad plans and financial structure.
Why Arsenal Preferred Jorginho to Thomas Partey
Infield Reasons
Thomas Partey became a fan favourite at Arsenal thanks to his technical quality and calm presence in midfield. With him shielding the defence, the team often looked more composed and balanced. Though not the most athletic in the squad, his intelligence, press resistance, and crisp passing helped link defence to attack effortlessly, earning him the nickname “The Octopus.”
However, his time at Arsenal has been a mix of highs and frustrations. While influential when fit, his persistent injury issues have made him unreliable. That inconsistency is a major reason why a contract extension was never secured.
In the 2023–24 season, Partey featured in just 16 matches across all competitions. Despite recording over 40 starts in each of his final three seasons at Atlético Madrid, he managed 30-plus starts in only one of his five seasons in North London.
In comparison with Jorginho, Partey does not come close in fitness. In fact, Jorginho, in his over 14 years as a professional, has missed just one game due to injury and five more due to illness. He is one of the few players who barely get injured.
Arsenal also preferred the former Chelsea man due to the leadership and mentorship role he played in the club. A lot of the players and staff look up to him. His mentality is elite, and Arteta did not want to lose that.
Partey was one of the most featured Arsenal players last season, but history would advise caution in making him one of the highest paid at the club, also considering he turns 33 on his next birthday, while evidence of his slowing down is already becoming non-negligible.
Off-Pitch Reasons
Financially, offering Thomas Partey improved terms simply doesn’t make sense for Arsenal, especially with his role in the squad set to diminish. Given the current circumstances, extending his contract on higher wages would be an unsound move from both a sporting and business perspective.
Partey’s desire for an extension is understandable as this could be his final significant contract, and as a free agent, he’s likely to attract offers that exceed what Arsenal are willing to pay. However, from the club’s standpoint, any new deal should reflect reduced terms, aligned with his declining status in the team.
The imminent arrival of Martin Zubimendi has further underlined the shift away from relying on Partey. With younger, more durable options coming in, there’s little justification for maintaining, or increasing, his £200,000 weekly wage.
Additionally, Partey’s time at Arsenal has quietly been overshadowed by off-pitch controversy. Since 2022, he has been linked to an unresolved rape allegation, a matter neither he nor the club has publicly addressed.
This backdrop has only made the situation more complex, reinforcing why the club sees a clean break as the best course forward. Though no charges were filed, the weight of the accusations has forced the club into a delicate balancing act.
To avoid media backlash, Arsenal noticeably limited Partey’s visibility across official platforms, often excluding him from promotional content even when fit and available. This subtle distancing has been telling, reflecting the complexity of having a player under legal scrutiny in the squad.
While the club continued playing him, possibly guided by legal clearance, it placed them in an uncomfortable position both ethically and publicly. The optics have remained a concern, especially for a club that prides itself on values and image.
In light of this, Partey’s exit feels like a necessary step for Arsenal to draw a clean line and focus on their objectives without controversy.
Christian Nørgaard: What Does The New Man Behold?
Christian Nørgaard is a completely different profile from what Arsenal had in both Thomas Partey and Jorginho. He is more of a traditional defensive Midfielder, a destroyer, with pale technical prowess.
His strengths were evident in the last Premier League season as his numbers are top amongst players of his trade. Among midfielders, only Ryan Gravenberch made more interceptions (60) than his (49), while his 112 possession won in the midfield is only second to the 130 of Moises Caicedo.
He isn’t more suited for Arsenal than Partey was, but in the current situation, having him around would definitely be better in terms of finances and fitness. He earns £40,000 at the City Ground, and wouldn’t be expected to be offered more than half of what Partey earned at the club.
The 31-year-old is coming in as a backup for Zubimendi, and even though his involvement may be restricted and selected based on the nature of features, his box presence will have set-piece coach Nicholas Jover excited.
Nørgaard was involved in nine Premier League goals last season, the majority of which came from set-pieces. He covered more ground than any player in the last league season, and would give the Gunners a comparative advantage when legs are tired.
Nørgaard also comes in as a leader. He is at the right age for such role, and has been the captain of Brentford since the end of the 2022-23, following the departure of Pontus Jansson.
The decision to let Thomas Partey leave aligns with a long-term vision that values consistency over sentiment. While Partey still possesses quality, the combination of his age, injury record, wage demands, and off-pitch complications made any contract extension a risk the club could no longer justify.
Christian Nørgaard may not mirror his profile, but he offers the toughness the midfield sometimes lacks, and this makes him a reliable addition to Arteta’s side. It’s a move rooted in pragmatism, and in the broader picture, it’s the right one.
Kehinde-Hassan Afolabi
4 Comments
Kudos
Well written, I enjoyed the thread so much.
Nice analysis bro It was completely logical to let Partey go
Good one,