Arsenal summer signing builds up minutes on international duty

Arsenal’s Christian Norgaard played 90 minutes for Denmark against Greece on Sunday, just his second full match of the competitive campaign.

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After playing a significant role in Arsenal’s pre-season preparations, summer signing Christian Norgaard spent the first month of the 2025/26 campaign out injured.

The midfielder returned with a substitute appearance against Athletic Club, before making his first and only start so far against Port Vale in the League Cup.

But it’s been hard for the 31-year-old to build up minutes following his injury, with Martin Zubimendi and Declan Rice for competition.

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From that perspective, it’s been encouraging to see the player fully involved with Denmark over the October international break.

After playing almost half an hour as a substitute against Belarus on Thursday, Norgaard started and played the full 90 minutes against Greece on Sunday.

Both results went Denmark’s way, with the team winning the first 6-0 and the second 3-1. Norgaard put in a solid individual performance in his start against Greece – winning four of six duels, making three clearances, and blocking two shots, whilst also completing 82% of his passes.

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International breaks often raise concerns among supporters of club sides, but this is one of those examples of when international matches can actually benefit a player. Norgaard has more than doubled his minutes for the season in the week since leaving Arsenal for Denmark.

As for Denmark’s World Cup prospects, they’ve now guaranteed a top-two finish and a play-off spot at the very least. But they still have a fight on their hands to qualify for the World Cup automatically, sitting level on 10 points with Scotland.

Denmark have the superior goal difference, so matching Scotland’s results would likely win them the group. But they still have a game away to Scotland to come on November 18th.