Arsenal midfielder Christian Norgaard had an unusual first season, but he now appears set to remain in N5 for the foreseeable future.

Arsenal midfielder Christian Norgaard is highly unlikely to leave the Emirates Stadium this summer.

That is the view from a source in Denmark, which says the 32-year-old is so committed to life in North London that he would “play for free” if he could, and would walk away from a transfer move that had previously been discussed.

Norgaard managed only seven Premier League appearances in his first season, and had earlier been seen as certain to depart Arsenal after just 12 months — though, apparently, that is “not a possibility in this transfer window”.

Tipsbladet journalist Farzam Abolhosseini has said Norgaard will not leave Arsenal this summer, even describing it as “not a possibility”.

“I will be shocked if it happened,” Abolhosseini said on the outlet's podcast Podimo. “I think people sometimes forget just how big an Arsenal fan he is. You just have to look at those photos from a year ago, when he was introduced.

“His lifelong dream is coming true, and he gets to see his son wear the Arsenal jersey, when he himself has supported the club his whole life.

“I’m almost convinced he’d play for them for free. It means so much to him. From that perspective, I just can’t see him being willing to leave.”

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The remarks are a surprise, given that Norgaard has gone from making 34 appearances as Brentford captain in Thomas Frank's final season at the Gtech to starting only once in the Premier League all season, when Arsenal won the title.

The Dane signed a two-year deal last summer, but confirmed in October last year that the Gunners would be his final club abroad before he returns home to Brondby.

“I can guarantee that Arsenal will be my last club abroad: I still want to return to Brondby when my contract at Arsenal expires,” Norgaard said.

“My contract is two years with an option for a further year. And I would be happy to stay at Arsenal for the extra year if things develop in that direction. If it turns out that it wasn't the right match, we'll go home to Denmark after two years.”

FourFourTwo understands that Arsenal's recent move for Bruno Guimaraes is still alive, and manager Mikel Arteta remains eager to add another midfielder to his squad before the season starts, with Norgaard one of four central midfielders alongside Englishmen Declan Rice and Myles Lewis-Skelly, as well as World Cup winner Martin Zubimendi.

Norgaard is valued at €5m, according to Transfermarkt. Arsenal face newly-promoted Coventry City in their 2026/27 Premier League curtain-raiser.

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