Arsenal appeared to be closing in on a clean bill of health ahead of their trip to Old Trafford, but Sunday’s game revealed a new injury concern to a summer signing.
Arsenal have dealt with a number of injury problems over the summer, from those who ended the 2024/25 campaign out of action to those who suffered injuries during pre-season.
It was a race to get everyone fit in time for the Premier League’s opening game against Manchester United, with Jurrien Timber, Gabriel Magalhaes, Kai Havertz, and Riccardo Calafiori only returning from injuries in Arsenal’s final week of friendlies.
Leandro Trossard missed both Emirates Stadium friendlies, and he remained a doubt to face United until days before the game. In the end, he was fit to make the squad, but he didn’t come on.
That only left Gabriel Jesus as a known injury absentee for the first game of the new season, but Mikel Arteta revealed afterwards that Christian Norgaard has also picked up a problem.
“He had a little issue the medical staff will address,” Arteta said. “He wasn’t able to play today.”
Norgaard had been a regular during pre-season, playing 45 minutes against AC Milan, 13 against Newcastle, 68 against Spurs, and another 45 against Villarreal.
Though after featuring in those first four friendlies, the former Brentford man was then left on the bench for the final Athletic Club friendly, perhaps hinting that he was already carrying this minor issue.
Martin Zubimendi is likely to remain Arteta’s first-choice option in Norgaard’s position regardless, so Arsenal can afford to be a little cautious with their other new midfield signing for now.
But Arsenal fans will hope Norgaard’s injury isn’t too serious, as an extended spell out would then put a lot of pressure on Zubimendi when the schedule gets a bit busier.