When Arsenal’s Norwegian defender Håvard Nordtveit suggested he could ‘save Arsène Wenger some money’ in the transfer window, by stepping up to the first team, most Gooners said “Thanks, but no thanks”, as a more experienced face was the preferred option.
Nordtveit was speaking after Wenger admitted he was looking for defensive reinforcements, but the Frenchman has recently back tracked on that statement, meaning Håvard could get his chance after all.
“I have decided that defenders are no longer necessarily needed for next season.“
The Vats’s born youngster has certainly made a fantastic impression on his new employers since his arrival last summer, with the Gunners boss praising both his “maturity” and “intelligence”. But it’s not just Wenger who has warmed to him, both Neil Banfield and team mate Gavin Hoyte have previously heaped praise on the prospect.
He has captained both Arsenal’s Reserves and Norway’s Under 17’s & 19’s last term, and whilst he is yet to gain any real experience, he came to London having already featured for the first team at previous side FK Haugesund.
If there are no plans to sign a new central defender, realistically could Nordtveit make the step up?. The answer for me is an emphatic yes. His reading of the play is first class, and at 188cm has all the height and aerial prowess that William Gallas and Kolo Toure lack. You can read more of my views on the player Here.
The only downside in his game is that although he is tall, his physique does leave a lot to be desired. However should he get some playing time over pre-season, and spend some time working in the gym, he could prove to be a welcome addition to the first team next year.
Arsène Wenger echo’s these statements, and after personally scouting Håvard, who turns 18 on Saturday, holds high hopes he can develop into a top prospect.
“Physically we need to get him up to the Premiership level, at the moment he is a bit behind. But technically and tactically he is already there. He is an intelligent boy with good vision. He has a good pass out from the back and he is strong too.
“I hope that he can develop well.”
Article By – J.Sanderson
he’s extremely raw. he can have a lot of playing time come pre-season. he’s an amazingly great prospect though. i don’t remember any other player captained his side in his first season.
I think Djourou is the man myself.
if only someone would teach djourou how to defend
i think the whole arsenal squad needs to go to the gym personally. Vela, walcott, denilson, fabregas, etc.
remember these boys are only young, Fabregas is fairly strong IMO. but Agree with the others, although they are improving all the time.
ya i thin k he deserves a shot in the first team its the only way to really find out if hes ready ! MABYE A PRE SEASEON FREINDLY OF THE CARLING CUP 1 BUT I AGREE HE’S A RAW TALENT
Hey, when did Wenger made that comment about Nordveit? Was it when he was signed, midway in the season or sometime more recent?
Top blog…really appreciated…
i suspect Thuram may come as part of the hleb deal. this guy could help to develop our defensive corps. at all levels! he could also be a future Arsenal manager.
Thuram cannot come as part of the Hleb deal mate. His contract has already expired, so he cannot be used. We still could get him through, but i very much doubt it.
Trust me, Arsene will buy one experienced Centre Back, or we will lose title before december.
Players who hit the gym too much too young are known to have extremely bad injuriy problems later on in their career. Michael Owen and Rosicky are two that come to mind, both are shot to fuck and spent alot of their earlier careers trying to combat being too small.
J: Do you realisticly think he’ll make the Carling Cup team?
FUGAYZI: Surely Van Basten + Bergkamp will spend the next ten years learning how to run a club so they can make the step-up when AW retires. :D It all makes sense, possibly Arsenal’s greatest loved player, the new Ajax link, the technically game and learning how to control a great youth academy (no matter how much cryuff hates mvb.) And he could win a Euro’s with pretty football. Yeah, it’s who my money would be on.
I think Bergkamp should be Wenger’s successor, van Basten will eventually go to AC MILAN were he belongs, I hope Bergkamp will get some experience around the world before succeeding Wenger. I can’t imagine anyone else taking over :D
Anyway this boy is obviously not the answer to our “defensive problems”, Djourou isn’t going to get any better so I would still love to see our last transfer being a defender… By the way why aren’t we selling any players?!! Is there any news on other players being sold like Djourou or Senderos?!!
Moushin: It looks like Hoyte is as good as gone and I wouldn’t be surprised if Djorou ends up at Wigan.
Bergkamp can’t be a manager, unless we give up European football.
Lets be honest – he needs to stop buying talented dwarves or all we’ll win is best pantomime cast.
Part of me wonders what would happen if XYZ Gazillionaire decided to buy a team of talented giants/lanky streaks of piss and high-assist wingers, e.g. (and I’m not suggesting I’m picking the optimum team here):
(RB) Micah Richards (5’11”)
(CB) Christoph Metzelder (6’4″)
(CB) John Terry (6’1″)
(LB) Gareth Barry (6’0″)
(RW) Christiano Ronaldo (6’1″)
(CM) Orlando Engelaar (6’6″)
(CM) Yaya Toure (6’3″)
(LW) Ashley Young (5’9″) 17 assists
(ST) John Carew (6’5″)
(ST)
Surely – they’d never concede a corner, and have a greater than 50% chance of scoring from corners and free kicks, how do you defend against that sort of height ?
stupid smileys
It’s the “no longer needed” that indicates to me that we will get a defender. Wenger said he’d get his buying done before the Euro’s (when it was known we were trying for Zapata), and for a man so responsible with his words, he would have said “I am not buying a defender” if that’s what he meant. Buying players now means they aren’t ours yet remember, the window opens on the 1st July.
Or it could mean he is selling every defender, as they are no longer needed. We’ll play 0-8-2.
With all due respect, the guy is still a young kid and, having seen him for the reserves, in mu opinion nowhere near ready enough for the first team squad yet.
I think 99% of people who have seen him this season would say he ready. Despite the physical problem, he has dealt well with Lita, Long, Nugent, who have all played in the Premiership.
Certainly a top prospect for the future, and will no doubt get CC football next term
I still have a feeling Zapata might be joining us and if he did it might signal the end for Senderos but not for Djourou, cause he’s versetile and can play in defence and midfield, or Nordtveit cause he’s one for the future. Buying Zapata for me is saying here’s our eventual replacement for Gallas who’s in his 30’s. At least I hope we sign him. Nasri, Yaya or De La Red and Zapata and we solid.
He’s definitely part of the defensive corps. He does have a bit to do, with Song and Djourou fighting for places as well. I would back the Cameroonian to break the Toure and Gallas defensive axis. At the cost of who’s starting place, I’m not sure.
Havard is a talent, but he’s fifth at the moment. I think Wenger will only sign a Centre half if he is a big talent, a’la Zapata. If one is not available, he will surely give the lads in waiting a chance. If Havard is only barely fifth choice, then we must have some talent there.
As I say Kolo and Gallas best step up a gear or they won’t just be looking over their shoulders.
Who will not play if harvard plays? Btw great site jamie^^
Wengerbots comments about Harvard are very interesting. According to him all he is lacking is a bit of bulk, everything else is already there.
I wouldn’t right off Djourou just yet, he had a bad time at Brum, but so what? They proved to be a poor team. He has all the attributes to make it and at least deserves the kinda chances Senderos has been afforded.
I pray Song is NEVER used as a centre back, unless its to come on as a sub, 5 minutes from time, when we are 7 nil up.
Spike,
Song was bit shaky when played in the centre of the park, but began to really flourish when played at Centre Half. A windswept night at Ewood park, when he read everything thrown at the defence and generally held the back four together being a defining moment in his season.
At the back he has an air of authority, reads the game well, with a hint of recovery pace and plenty of muscle. I think he’ll make it his own, but I also have a lot of time for Djourou, who looks like he was built to play there. Not far off a young Rio, he too, needs game time.
Dont get me wrong. I really like Song, that game against Blackburn he came out of defence with the ball all the time! Too much at times!
But he is too similar in style and stature to Gallas & Kolo, we need height at the back IMO.
I would like to see Song given a go in centre midfield, personally.
Am gutted, didnt get a chance to bet on germany winning tonight!
I know what you mean about the height thing, but neither Gallas or Kolo offer that option, so unfortunately for them that won’t save them. I think Senderoos should be sold, Johan and Alex given chances, then Kolo and Gallas will feel the pressure to perform. As it is, they feel to comfortable and frankly were vboth under par when it mattered most.
On The Germany game, it’s just a pleasure to see Ronaldo under it. Plus I do have Ballack in my work fantasy team.
Withy the height thing, I mean that we need a tall CB to partner EITHER gallas or Kolo, Song should be their understudy if anything and Djourou, or Harvard second choice to the new 7foot tall CB!
I have wanted Senderos to come good for so long, been one of his biggest supporters, defended him loads of times, but I just don’t feel he suits this Arsenal team. He would do well in Italy I think and its no surprise Juve have been strongly linked with him for some time.
The height thing did not particularly hurt us early season. We were not helped when Sagna got injured and more crosses were heading in, but ideally we would have a bit more aerial presence.
With regards to bringing one in, that’s really what I said earlier, if Wenger buys a Centre Half he would have to be super quality. He know’s that, there is little point buying potential because he already has that at the club.
I’m confident if no one comes in, Song or maybe Djourou will force themselves into a regular starting position. In particular, Gallas should be worried but to some extent so should Kolo. He has been a top player and is by no means, in decline, but his form in the second half of the season was questionable and as such, so will his place be.
Also, if Wenger retains Gallas as captain, Kolo would be even further under the microscope, simply by default.
Well Adams was only 21 when he became captain of Arsenal.
Nordtveit’s still obviously got a little way to go yet, but perhaps now is the right time for him to start slowly breaking his way into the team.
I think the CB situation is pretty much like the rest of the squad’s imbalance. We have a lot of similar players; short arse defenders and central midfielders being asked to play wide!
The squad needs additions to balance it out if for no other reason, but what the chuff do I know?
Adios
I wish he gets some play time but somtin tells me he is a little 2 young.Over here in Nigeria we r hopin,praying and wishing this upcoming season is d season our potential turns into trophies.Nordtveit might b a good part time player though.
As youve said Sanderson, hes definately ready mentally – let’s hope he can strengthen quickly and be ready for a place in the starting line up in a year or 2 when Gallas is being phased out.
Barring inuries, Nordtveit will hopefully get plently of playtime in the Carling Cup next season – let’s see how he copes then.
Nasri Update Added Guys !
http://youngguns.wordpress.com/2008/06/19/exclusive-marseille-confirm-nasri-having-medical/
Arsenal needs Ben Arfa, he is like Henry
This boy will headline the carling cup sides, possibly feature in the meaningless F.A. cup ties and/or the Champions league qualifying games. These are my two cents, this kid will fill Gallas’ boots in a season or two though, mark my words.
hope he will not be next cygan / senderos… :(
he’s not big enough yet.
i may be alone, but i still have faith in Senderos.
Senderos for Arsenal manager! (well give him 20 years or so..)
Duke – i think unfortunatly you are alone! As clever as senderos is academically i dont think he is more inteligent than booting it up the field and falling asleep on the pitch. It must be all the late night studying is getting to him!
Duke, You’re not alone!
I also stil have some belief in Senderos. But most of all I think people are cherry picking by trying to blame our defensive blunders on him while ignoring the MANY and COSTYLY mistakes Gallas and Toure made
Senderos made big mistakes in the Liverpool game. But look at the costyly mistakes Gallas and Toure made last season.
Gallas: handball at Old Trafford, he was largelly responsible for at least two of the goals in the 4-0 FA Cup defeat against United. Couldn’t handle Drogba at Stamford Bridgy, thereby losing our lead and the game.
Toure: came back from ACN a MESS, along with Gallas couldn’t handle Drogba at Stamford Bridge, gave away a penalty at Anfield(even if you want to debate if it was really a penalty, he should not have put himself in that position).
Nin I think that Gallas is mainly one to go and NOT here me NOT to be captain for AFC. Van Persie For captain!!!
Congratulations! IMO this is definitely the most insightful Arsenal blog and has good, intelligent comments
forget the fact that he is a yopungster,henry<fabregas&the likes where also given a chance thats why there talents were discovered,lets give him a chance
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