Arsenal midfielder insists he wants to stay at the club | OneFootball

Christian Norgaard insists he is happy at Arsenal despite not playing as much as he would like this season.

The midfielder moved to north London from Brentford in the summer transfer window, making 11 appearances under Mikel Arteta in all competitions since then.

He is in line to start when the Gunners take on Kairat Almaty in the Champions League on Wednesday, having already secured their place in the round of 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 the club.

“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.

“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.

“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.

“It’s not like a daily frustration I have, to be honest. I’m just making it clear that I want to play more minutes like any other player would in my situation.

“It’s not been a daily frustration for me and I feel like I have really good communication with the manager and he’s been really honest with me.

“I feel that he’s happy with my role here and I think coming towards the end of the season, we will need the whole squad and I’m sure I can play a role in the last part of the Premier League (season).”

Norgaard was left out of the squad completely for the game against Manchester United and admits the competition for places means it is to be expected.

“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,” Norgaard reflected.

“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, as long as every player is fit.

“I would say that the majority of this season, that has not been the case because of the amount of games that we play and the intensity.

“The medical staff are doing an amazing job keeping everyone fit and available, and the manager will have some tough decisions to make but it’s all part of it. We all have to embrace it and we need a full squad if we want to compete in all of the tournaments.”