27/27 passes, 3 recoveries: 27-touch star was Arsenal’s standout player vs Villarreal

It was supposed to be another calm pre-season day at the Emirates Stadium. The fans came with smiles. The sun was shining over north London. Mikel Arteta stood on the touchline watching carefully. He wanted to see how his Arsenal players would respond after their painful 1-0 loss to bitter rivals Tottenham Hotspur the week before. He wanted to see energy. He wanted to see control. He wanted to see the new signings come to life. He wanted to see something special. But once again, things didn’t go to plan.

Arsenal lost again. This time it was 3-2 to Villarreal. Yes, just a friendly match, yes the result didn’t affect the table, but yes, it still hurt. The goals they conceded, the slow reactions, the missed chances — all of it showed that this Arsenal team is not ready yet. The Premier League curtain-raiser against Manchester United is getting closer and closer, and Arteta knows time is running out. But even on a difficult day like this, one name stood tall. One player showed heart, quality, and something Arsenal fans can hold onto. That name was Christian Norgaard.

The 31-year-old Dane, who arrived from Brentford this summer, was not the name people were shouting about when Arsenal announced his signing. Some fans even doubted it. Why Norgaard? Why an older player? Why not a younger star? But inside the Emirates, under the lights, on the fresh green grass, Norgaard gave them an answer. In just 45 minutes of football, he proved why Arteta wanted him so badly. He didn’t just play; he controlled. He didn’t just run; he guided. He didn’t just pass; he led.

He touched the ball 27 times. Every single pass he made — all 27 of them — reached its target. Not one mistake. Not one misplaced ball. He looked calm. He looked wise. He looked like someone who had played in this shirt all his life. And when Arsenal won a corner, Norgaard made his way to the far post. The ball flew in high. Villarreal defenders got distracted. Norgaard stayed focused. A perfect header. Goal. The Emirates roared. Norgaard raised his hand. It was a goal that didn’t win the match, but it meant something. It was a message — I am here, and I am ready.

After the break, Norgaard was replaced by Martin Zubimendi. And guess what? The Spanish midfielder continued exactly where Norgaard stopped. Zubimendi, another summer arrival, is expected to be the main man in the holding midfield role this season. Everyone knows it. Even Norgaard knows it. But on that day, both of them played like brothers in arms. Zubimendi kept it simple but strong. He completed every single pass too. He didn’t lose a single duel. He was sharp, smooth, and clean. His presence helped the team push forward. He made the team better.

It was not just the senior stars who gave fans something to smile about. Off the bench came a young boy, just 15 years old, but with the heart of a lion. His name is Max Dowman. When he ran onto the pitch, fans looked at their team sheets again. A 15-year-old? In this big game? But Arteta had seen something in him. He trusted him. And Dowman did not disappoint. He danced on the right wing with confidence. He dribbled past men twice his age. And then came the moment. Dowman raced into the box, fearless. Villarreal defenders panicked. They brought him down. Penalty to Arsenal. The crowd clapped, the players gathered, and Martin Odegaard stepped forward. He buried the penalty with class. But the real hero of that moment was Dowman.

You could feel something special in the air. The scoreline wasn’t going Arsenal’s way, but these little moments told a different story. The future is growing inside this team. The present is still learning, but the future is rising fast. Dowman is not just a youth academy boy anymore. He is now someone knocking on the first-team door. And the door might soon open if he keeps this up.

Back to the bigger picture, though — Arteta has work to do. Two straight defeats in pre-season is not what the fans wanted. It’s not what the players wanted. And it’s definitely not what Arteta wanted. He knows there’s only one more chance to fine-tune things before the serious games begin. That final pre-season match will be against Athletic Bilbao. And this time, Arteta is expected to go all in. No more experiments. No more rotations. The best eleven. The strongest players. The real test.

That means we are likely to see Gabriel Magalhaes in defence. Declan Rice will return to patrol the midfield. Martin Odegaard will wear the armband once again. And yes, Martin Zubimendi will probably be the man standing in front of the back four. But Norgaard has done enough to make sure his name remains in the conversation. Arteta may rotate him during the season. He may use him in tough away matches. He may bring him in when calm heads are needed. And every time Norgaard steps on the pitch, Arsenal fans will remember this day — the day he made his home debut and silenced every doubt.

Leadership. That’s the keyword here. It’s something you can’t buy easily. You can’t teach it in one week. You either have it, or you don’t. And Norgaard has it. From Brentford to Arsenal, he has brought that calm, that guidance, that no-panic style of play. He doesn’t panic when under pressure. He doesn’t rush his passes. He talks. He points. He moves with a purpose. He is a player every team needs, especially in a league as wild and intense as the Premier League.

Arteta spoke after the game. He didn’t smile much. He knows there are problems to fix. He said this Villarreal game was a vital test. And he’s right. Villarreal are not a weak team. They played strong, pressed high, and punished Arsenal’s mistakes. That’s exactly what teams like Manchester United, Manchester City, and Chelsea will do in the Premier League. So this loss, though painful, may be a gift in disguise. It showed the weaknesses. It exposed the gaps. And now, Arteta must fix them fast.

The fitness levels of some players were not where they should be. The chemistry in midfield was still a bit off. The defence lost concentration at key moments. The forwards missed chances they would normally bury. These are things that need to be solved quickly. Because once the season begins, there’s no time for excuses. Every match will matter. Every point will count. Every mistake could be costly.

But despite all that, the silver linings are there. Norgaard. Zubimendi. Dowman. These are not just names. They are pieces of a puzzle. A puzzle that Arteta is building carefully. A puzzle that fans hope will finally bring the Premier League trophy back to the red side of north London.

And let’s not forget — this is still pre-season. Pre-season is not about trophies. It’s about preparation. It’s about learning. It’s about testing. And even in defeat, Arsenal learned valuable lessons. They learned that Norgaard can be trusted. They learned that Zubimendi is more than just hype. They learned that Dowman is a diamond in the rough. And they learned that they must work harder if they want to beat teams like Villarreal — and later, Manchester United.

The season is coming. The pressure is building. The fans are watching. The critics are waiting. But Arsenal are not scared. They’ve seen the good and the bad this summer. And now, it’s about turning it all into something real. Something strong. Something unstoppable.

Christian Norgaard may have only played 45 minutes, but in those 45 minutes, he became a name every Arsenal fan will remember. He made his mark. He scored. He passed. He led. And he reminded everyone — never doubt a player who carries the fire in his heart and the calm in his mind.

As the Emirates slowly emptied that evening, a small group of fans stayed behind. They clapped for the players. They clapped for the kids. And they clapped for Norgaard. That’s how memories begin. That’s how legends grow. Not always in big finals. Sometimes, in quiet friendlies that don’t matter on paper — but mean everything to the heart.