Christian Norgaard says he is happy at Arsenal despite not playing as often as he would like this season.
The midfielder joined from Brentford in the summer and has made 11 appearances in all competitions under Mikel Arteta. He is expected to start against Kairat Almaty in the Champions League on Wednesday, with Arsenal already through to the last 16.
“No, I’m really happy here and the messages I get from the club are that they are really happy with me here as well,” Norgaard said when asked if he has considered leaving.
“For me, it’s a mutual relationship that right now is working really good. It’s a learning curve for me as well. I need also to improve and show the tactics that Mikel wants.”
Norgaard believes his recent performances show progress and hopes to play a bigger role later in the season.
“Now I’ve felt and I’ve seen in the last couple of games I’ve played in the Champions League and Carabao Cup, there’s been a good improvement so hopefully coming into the last part of the season I can contribute more on the pitch.”
He accepts competition for places is high in Arteta’s squad.
“Everyone wants to play more minutes but it’s a big squad, it’s a squad full of quality and I think coming towards the end of the season it’s exactly what we need if we want to compete in all of these tournaments.”
Norgaard also addressed being left out of the squad against Manchester United.
“That’s the hard part, you feel a little bit helpless in that situation because you sit there in the stands and you can’t really help the team,” he said.
“I don’t think it’s his (Arteta) favourite part of his job, to leave players out of the squad, but unfortunately with the amount of players that we have and the quality we have, that’s a decision he will have to make for every game.”
He added that squad depth will be key in the run-in.
“We all have to embrace it and we need a full squad if we want to compete in all of the tournaments.”
