Brentford star Mikkel Damsgaard is good enough to play for Arsenal or another big club, if the style of play suits him.
That’s according to his first coach at FC Nordsjælland, Alexander Riget, in an interview with Tipsbladet.
Damsgaard has established himself as the star at Brentford this season, overcoming previous injury issues to become a key player and demonstrate why they were once so keen to sign him.
He’s rewarded Thomas Frank’s faith with two goals and seven assists in 22 games in the Premier League this season. That latter tally means he is fourth on the assists chart in the Premier League this season.
He has, though, managed more than the likes of Kevin de Bruyne, Heung-min Son and Cole Palmer.
That’s led to speculation about his future, with a recent report indicating that Arsenal may be interested in him as they consider strengthening this month.
The player himself has played that down when asked directly but Riget believes he is good enough to play for Arsenal, or any other big club.
“I am not surprised by the way he is delivering in the Premier League now,” he said.
“Now I’m actually in England these days, with our Premier League International Cup team, and I was actually in to see Arsenal yesterday (against Dinamo Zagreb.
“Not because of Damsgaard, haha, but just to watch football. But yes, I think he can. However, I also think that it is very much about what kind of playing style he fits into, says Alexander Riget and continues:
“He has previously shown that when the challenges get bigger, he can keep up. He has shown that many times, I think. When he started playing in the national team, he was probably a little less profiled than some of the other players in the team, but when the level gets higher, he has an ability to adapt. So, I think he can make such a switch under the right conditions with the right style of play.”
Brentford are more than aware of the growing interest in the 24-year-old and have moved to ward off any interest in him.
Reports this week indicated that they’ve convinced the midfielder to sign a new extended deal at the club, which will also make him the highest paid player at the club.
The sums reported in that claim also put him among the highest earning Danish players in the game, and indeed, perhaps sport and Riget is delighted to see his former player being rewarded by the Premier League club.
“I think that it is extremely nice to be able to extend his agreement for such a long period, and if it is with the terms that have been put forward, then I just think that it is fantastic for Mikkel,” he said.
“He is a decisive player in one of the world’s best leagues, the Premier League, and that is really nice of him. And of course it is also something that we, as FC Nordsjælland people and those of us who have worked with him in his time, are enormously proud to have helped to develop.”