Håvard Nordtveit

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Håvard Nordtveit
Personal information
Full name Håvard Nordtveit
Date of birth June 21, 1990 (1990-06-21) (age 17)
Place of birth    Vats, Norway
Height 1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)
Playing position Centre Back
Club information
Current club Arsenal
Number 35
Youth clubs
 ?
?
2005		 Vats 94
Skjold IL
FK Haugesund
Senior clubs1
Years Club App (Gls)*
2005–2007
2007–present		 FK Haugesund
Arsenal		 16 (?)
0 (0)   
National team2
2006–present
2007–present		 Norway U17
Norway U19		 15 (0)
4 (0)

1 Senior club appearances and goals
counted for the domestic league only and
correct as of 20 December 2007.
2 National team caps and goals correct
as of 20 December 2007.
* Appearances (Goals)

Håvard Nordtveit (born 21 June 1990 in Vats) is a Norwegian football defender who plays for Arsenal FC and the Norway under-19 football team[1]. He has previously played for Vats 94, Skjold IL and F.K. Haugesund, the club where he made his professional debut. He made nine league appearances[2] during the 2007 season for Haugesund in the Norwegian Adeccoligaen[3].

Reports in the Norwegian press claimed that Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger went to Norway on 11 June 2007 to watch an Adeccoligaen match and begin negotiations to sign him[4]; however, members of the FKH board stated that the club had rejected Arsenal's initial bid[5]. The player himself said that his club was asking for a "supernaturally high" transfer fee[6]. The price being quoted in the Norweigan media was 20 million Norwegian kroner[7] (approximately £1.5 million). A transfer fee was later finalized for £2 million between the two clubs, which was made official on July 3, 2007.[8] Haugesund captain Kevin Nicol stated that Nordtveit is regarded as the "best defender for his age in the world."[9]

He made his Arsenal debut in their first pre-season friendly against Barnet F.C. on 14 July 2007. He came on after half-time, replacing Kerrea Gilbert.[10] He was named captain of Arsenal's reserve squad for the first match of the 2007-08 FA Premier Reserve League season; in an interview with Arsenal.com, Nordtveit said he was "honoured" to have been named captain, and that he hoped to continue in that role in the future.[11] He was a regular for the Norway U-19 squad during their qualification campaign for the 2008 UEFA U-19 Championship, but his nation were unable to qualify for the final stage.

Although Nordtveidt has not played for the Arsenal first team in a competitive match, he was named on the substitutes' bench in the final game of the 2007-08 season against Sunderland; however he did not play.

[edit] References

  1. ^ uefa.com - UEFA European U-19 C'ship - Fixtures & Results - Match specific
  2. ^ Arsenal.com - Nordtveit joins Arsenal from FK Haugesund
  3. ^ 100% Fotball
  4. ^ Arsene Wenger overvåket Håvard Nordtveit, og Haugesunds hjemmeseier (FotballMagasinet.no)
  5. ^ Sky Sports - Gunners fail with defender bid
  6. ^ Sky Sports - Gunners target laments price
  7. ^ – Er ikke 20 millioner nok? - Haugesunds Avis
  8. ^ Sky Sports - Arsenal seal Nordtveit deal
  9. ^ Scotsman.com - Kev's undercover role for Collins
  10. ^ Arsenal.com - Barnet vs. Arsenal match report
  11. ^ Arsenal.com - Nordtveit: It's an honour to be captain
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Arsenal F.C. – current squad

1 Lehmann • 2 Diaby • 3 Sagna • 4 Fàbregas • 5 Touré • 6 Senderos • 7 Rosický • 9 Eduardo • 10 Gallas • 11 van Persie • 13 Hleb • 15 Denílson • 17 Song • 19 Gilberto • 20 Djourou • 21 Fabiański • 22 Clichy • 24 Almunia • 25 Adebayor • 26 Bendtner • 27 Eboué • 30 Traoré • 31 J. Hoyte • 32 Walcott • 34 Gibbs • 35 Nordtveit • 36 Randall • 37 Rodgers • 38 Simpson • 39 Lansbury • 40 Mannone • 41 G. Hoyte • 42 Mérida • 43 Barazite • 44 Ogogo • 45 Dunne • 46 Gilbert • 47 Steer • –– Ramsey • –– Vela • Manager: Wenger