Christian Norgaard said he hoped Mikel Arteta was watching on at home after he managed to get 90 minutes under his belt playing for Denmark on Sunday.
Rasmus Hojlund, Joachim Andersen and Mikkel Damsgaard were on target as Denmark maintained their unbeaten record in World Cup qualifying with a comfortable 3-1 victory over Group C rivals Greece.
Norgaard returned to Brian Riemer’s starting XI at Copenhagen’s Parken Stadium and played right through to the final whistle, having coming on as a second-half substitute in Denmark’s previous clash with Belarus.
The 31-year-old has been struggling with a knee problem in recent weeks and was left out altogether for Denmark’s two qualifiers with Scotland and Greece last month.
The injury has been a source of immense frustration for Norgaard at the start of his Arsenal career following a £15million move from Brentford in the summer transfer window.
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It means Norgaard has featured just twice for the Gunners since arriving through the doors at the Emirates – and the midfielder is still yet to make an appearance in the Premier League this season.
Speaking to Viaplay after Denmark’s win, a beaming Norgaard admitted he was relieved to come through the match unscathed.
‘It was so nice, I made it,’ he said.
‘There is nothing greater than walking into the stadium here, an international match with a full crowd singing the national anthem.
‘I had a big smile on my face and almost my whole family were here watching so it was a nice evening for me.’
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Norgaard hopes the match proves to Arteta that he is capable of playing for minutes for Arsenal, with the Gunners returning to action against Fulham this weekend.
‘It’s also important for me to get these minutes to show the club that I can get through these games,’ he added.
‘I think now, considering how few minutes I’ve played with Arsenal, there were no flaws, no cramps or anything.
‘Hopefully the coach is at home watching to see that I can handle it physically.’
Asked if he is ready to up his game-time for Arsenal, Norgaard replied: ‘I hope so but time will tell. We have many talented players
‘The guy I’m playing against [Martin Zubimendi] is struggling [said jokingly]! He played for Spain the other day in Denmark and did excellently.
‘There are many matches and I hope, of course, it will be rotated a bit.
‘We also have both the Carabao Cup and the Champions League, as well as the Premier League, so, of course, I hope he also looks my way so that I am in an better position for the next international matches.’
Denmark – looking to secure qualification for a seventh World Cup – sit above Scotland on goal difference at the top of Group C.
Norgaard and Co resume their qualifying campaign away to Belarus in a month’s time, ahead of what could be decisive match just three days later at Hampden Park.
Reflecting on Denmark’s overall performance versus Greece, Norgaard went on: ‘I’m really happy that we got the three points.
‘I think we gave away a little too much today so that Greece could have scored more on a sharper day.
‘I think that’s what we’re most upset about, that we couldn’t control the game better at times.
‘We were really good when we were good and I think we were less good when we were less good.
‘There are periods of matches when we have no control at all and, at times, it was played on Greece’s terms.
‘But it’s important in such a match, of course, to win the match.’
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