Arsenal's summer signing speaks about which former club he wants to return to

Signing the Danish central midfielder Christian Nørgaard was a cheap albeit significant step by Arsenal this summer. The 31-year-old joined the Gunners on a 10 million plus 5 million performance-related transfer fee from Brentford.

This signing is not ordinary, let us state that at the start. I think both Arsenal and Nørgaard know why he has been brought in at this stage of his career. He will probably not be at his best in two years, so he is definitely not for the long term, and neither do Arsenal aspire that of him.

Nørgaard's task is simple. He will not start every time; he may not start many games at all. He will get fewer minutes than any other central midfielder, but he will have the most faith from the management whenever he is entrusted with pitch time.

Nørgaard is an established leader and a solid central midfielder who can distribute and defend whenever the situation arises.

The EFL Cup game that he started against Port Vale could describe it better numerically. In defence of brevity, he was simply and visibly superior on the pitch and showed the manager, through his work rate, that he deserves to start more. He clearly needs and can execute so much despite his age and limited role.

Arsenal's summer signing speaks about which former club he wants to return to

But at the same time, his stay at the club is not likely to be long. He will be out at 33 or 34; there’s no way he will be renewed afterwards. And in connection to that departure, Nørgaard has opened up about his favoured destination.

“I can assure you that Arsenal will be my last club abroad. I would still like to return to Brondby when my contract expires at Arsenal.”

Now, a reaction of pure censure is coming out most prevalently to these words, but there's a different take on this.

At this age and at the level of stature and maturity that Nørgaard has reached in his career, these thoughts exist in every player’s mind.

They all have a quiet plan to return home after one last challenge, to complete their career full circle before the fans who saw them grow, and the fans who grew with them.

Nørgaard, on his part, only said the quiet part out loud, and he’s being blamed for it. Some say, not directly, of course, that he is not dedicated enough to the project, and I do not approve of that.

To know one’s desire years in advance does not, in any manner, imply distraction in the present. To me, it rather elevates his position as a player with a clear mind who can still do many good things for Arsenal while he is here.

We know that once his contract ends, he won’t be here, and he’s done pretty well at the start, so why not listen to what he has in his book?