Gunners

Yeah, we really do. With both Partey almost certainly going and Jorgingo gone we will be very light in the defensive midfield department.

With no further additions, back-up options for Zubimendi will be:

• Rice, who can play there, but then it deprives us of him further up the pitch.
• Zinchenko, who Arteta doesn't seem to like playing in that position (and who might also be leaving).
• MLS, who I think would be great there eventually, but he's still pretty inexperienced.
• Merino, but I think he's much better a bit further up the pitch, and I don't think he really has the chops to play reliably as a DM.
• White, who played there for Bournemouth years ago, but again Arteta doesn't seem to want him playing as a DM.

Having a PL battle-hardened defensive midfielder who can come off the bench and relieve some of Zubimendi's workload will be essential. And Norgaard fits that need very well.