Mikel Arteta just named Arsenal's hardest trainer (and it's not who you'd think)

The reason why Arsenal is so great is that Mikel Arteta requires a different standard. It was a meme for a while, but it quickly turned from a laughing stock to something to be taken seriously.

Last night, against Club Brugge away from home in the Champions League, Arsenal showed a different side to their game. With key players out injured and off the back of a stinging defeat to Aston Villa, it would have been easy for Arsenal to drop their heads.

Nevertheless, Arsenal got the job done. They travelled across Europe and picked up three points, keeping a clean sheet in the process.

Mikel Arteta just named Christian Norgaard as Arsenal's hardest trainer

In the game against Club Brugge, Christian Norgaard picked up a rare start. It was his second start in the Champions League, and the first time he's made an appearance since last month's international break.

However, Mikel Arteta had no doubts about starting him. Admittedly, Declan Rice's illness helped to make that decision easier, but Mikel Arteta felt assured in starting Norgaard.

Speaking after the game, Mikel Arteta was full of praise about Christian Norgaard. Most notably, he highlighted how much he prepares behind the scenes, even dubbing him as the best at Arsenal in this regard.

In his own words, Mikel Arteta said: “[Christian Norgaard] probably prepares the best of all of them. Somebody who makes all of us better every single day. Play in any position, any condition, more or less minutes, but his attitude is always immaculate. Great example for all of us."

In all honesty, it would've taken many guesses to name Christian Norgaard as Arsenal's hardest trainer. You would have assumed Declan Rice, given the energy he puts out on the field.

This is a hidden part of Arsenal's squad that goes overlooked. There are players who make the bench, but when they start, they turn it up a gear. This applies to players like Christian Norgaard, Ben White, Noni Madueke, Gabriel Martinelli and many others.

Arsenal's second team is in the same position as the first team. Heck, the second team has been a necessity for a lot of this season.

We have criticized the signing of Christian Norgaard in the past, but it now makes sense. Not every player needs to start every week. With an inflated squad, that's hard to achieve.

If Norgaard puts in a lot of work behind the scenes, this can only be a good thing. The floor is important to raise, and if the younger players continue to learn by example, then the efforts of Norgaard will help to futureproof Arsenal as a club.