Mikel Arteta has paid tribute to Christian Norgaard following the midfielder's departure from Arsenal to Everton.
The Danish midfielder has left north London after one season, joining Everton on Wednesday in a deal believed to be worth £7 million. Norgaard has signed a two-year contract at the Hill Dickinson Stadium, becoming their third signing of the summer after Hayden Hackney and Tyrique George.
The 32-year-old made only 20 appearances in all competitions during his maiden campaign at Arsenal, starting just seven Premier League games.
Surplus to requirements
Norgaard appeared surplus to requirements at the Emirates even before a £75 million deal was agreed with Newcastle for Brazil midfielder Bruno Guimaraes, whose move is expected to be confirmed soon after he passed a medical on Wednesday and signed a four-year contract.
Despite his bit-part role last term, Arteta has hailed the impact of the former Brentford stalwart during a historic campaign that saw his side win their first top-flight title for 22 years and reach the Champions League final for only the second time in their history.
He also described the opportunity to play for his own former club Everton and manager David Moyes as a “massive opportunity”.
Arteta's praise
“He played a tremendous role for us,” Arteta said of Norgaard following Arsenal’s 3-1 defeat by Real Betis in a pre-season friendly at Dublin’s Aviva Stadium on Wednesday night.
“When I brought him here, I said that he could be our glue player - an incredible capacity to bring people together, to keep the standards high.
“When he played, he had some really good moments as well, but I understand that to fulfil that role for a long period is not easy.
“He had a massive opportunity with a manager and a club that I know really well and we wish him all the best and thank him.”
More exits expected
Norgaard follows Leandro Trossard out of Arsenal this summer, with the Belgian winger having joined Turkish giants Besiktas last month in a deal worth £15.3 million.
Defender Jakub Kiwior joined Porto on a permanent transfer after a successful season-long loan spell, while goalkeeper Karl Hein was sold to Werder Bremen in Germany.
More exits from Arsenal are expected ahead of the deadline on September 1, with doubts surrounding the futures of the likes of Gabriel Jesus, Ethan Nwaneri, Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira, while The Telegraph report that Spanish second-tier club Las Palmas are currently working on a loan deal for young Gunners goalkeeper Tommy Setford.
