Following the news that Norwegian prodigy, Havard Nordtveit, has sealed a season-long loan move to Spanish Segunda Liga outfit UD Salamanca, it appears that boss Arsene Wenger may see the youngster as a future starter in Arsenal’s back four. Having seen Havard play in both reserve and pre-season matches he does seem to play with great confidence and shows a great level of leadership for someone at the tender age of 18, resulting in him being given the captain’s armband by Neil Banfield.

One thing that did cross my mind whilst watching him play was that he may be the player that Arsenal’s defence has missed since the departure of Mr Arsenal himself, the great Tony Adams. Now to compare Havard to Tony Adams is very premature and heaps a lot of pressure and expectation on his shoulders but it is evident that Arsenal have not had a defender in the same mould as Adams since his departure. Our current centre backs are too similar in the sense that they are both good footballers and quick, yet we do not have that strong gutsy player that isn’t afraid of a block, yet knows how to read the game and that is what I feel Havard could turn out to be for Arsenal if his development continues.

The Norwegian was laid low by injury last term, and although he made the bench for the final game of the season he did not feature. But this comes as a clear indication that Wenger clearly sees the young centre-half as having what it takes to challenge for a place in seasons to come. When Nordtveit first signed for Arsenal from F.K. Haugesund in June 2007 manager Arsene Wenger went on record as saying: “What I liked in this boy is his intelligence and his mental strength. He is an intelligent boy with good vision. He has a good pass out from the back and he is strong too. I hope that he can develop well.” Now I am fully aware that when a new player is signed it isn’t very often that his weaknesses are outlined instead of his strengths but this young man really does seem to have what it takes to be the defender we so desperately need.

This year will be a pivotal one in the development of his career and, providing that he stays injury free, I have every confidence that he will prove to be a big success out in Spain. The player himself has gone on record himself by stating that he would rather go out on loan and gain first team-experience and a run in the side than play reserve team football. It is a well known fact that confidence is a huge part in a footballer’s performance as is evident with Philippe Senderos. The Swiss defender could be the sort of defender Arsenal are looking for but whilst he is in and out of the team and is prone to the odd error it appears that he may have blown his chance of holding down a first team place and has now fallen down the pecking order behind the in-form Johan Djourou. (Ed's note - this submission was sent to us just before the AC Milan loan was announced.)

So while Havard will not be wearing the red and white of Arsenal this season he will be plying his trade overseas and getting himself prepared to challenge for a first-team place on his return. And who knows he may even tread his first footsteps to becoming the player that the great Tony Adams was.