Havard Nordtveit (Captain)
Things could have been very different for Reserves skipper Havard Nordtveit, in January 2007 he spent a week on trial at Manchester United. Training with the first team before then returning to Haugesund, a club he had already featured for despite being aged just 16. Havard’s potential had caught the eye of Steve Rowley playing for Norway at Youth Level.
Strong, quick, and great in the air, Havard has all the skills needed to be a world class defender, and has settled quickly in his first season with the Gunners.
One former Norway manager even described him as one of the brightest defensive talents in Europe. In the summer Wenger, Rowley and Ken Friar flew to Norway to personally tie up the deal, and after having 2 bids rejected finally got a deal done. For a reported fee of £1.5 million rising to £2.5 subject to appearances.
Havard’s first outing for his new club came in the pre season friendly with Barnet, a young side won 2-0 and he played the final few minutes. Nordtveit was then named skipper by Neil Banfield for the 2007-2008 season. He scored his first goal in the 2-2 draw with Birmingham, and only an injury ended his excellent start to the season.
The Norwegian season was coming to an end just as Arsenal’s was beginning so Havard took a break to rest his injury and returned against Fulham on January 2nd. Nordtveit’s passing range is very impressive for a centre back, being able to spray accurate 60 yard passes all over the pitch.
Name: Havard Nordtveit (Captain)
Age: 17
Nationality: Norwegian
Position: Centre Back
Previous Clubs: Vats 94, Skjold IL, FK Haugesund
Contract : Professional
He is a good Player
hope to be like Maldini but in arsenal ..
we loke at him like the perfect man after gallas
Sanderson, do you have any idea roughly how tall Havard is? To me he doesn’t look all that tall but it may just be because he’s fairly lightly built that it’s deceptive. What i really think we need in the first team is a physically dominant centre back.
he is 185cm
[...] they would like in a new defender, most of those things can be found in Reserves captain Håvard Nordtveit. The 17 year old signed last summer from Norwegian minnows FK Haugesund, has had a fantastic season [...]
I read that he is 6′2″/188cm
[...] Håvard Nordtveit was included in the squad and completed the full 90 minutes. He is also expected to feature in the next games against Bulgaria and Israel as well. Thanks to Young Guns regular “Stone” for this news. [...]
he is not as good as you think,he might be the next cygan or senderous.pls we need a worldclass defender like juan ramos or cannavaro
At 188cm, he is taller than Toure.
“he is not as good as you think,he might be the next cygan or senderous.pls we need a worldclass defender like juan ramos or cannavaro” noah
Quite the pipe son, Nordtveit is gonna be the real deal, like rio ferdinand
“he is not as good as you think,he might be the next cygan or senderous.pls we need a worldclass defender like juan ramos or cannavaro”
Nordtveit IS the new Cannavaro
Just give him some time
NORWEGIAN PLAYER IN ARSENAL
very good 
guys, could you please pass a link as i really want to see some videos of this guy, but not his interview at arsenal
many thanks, plamen
I’m a sworn Norwegian Arsenal fan. I can verify that Nordtveit is 188cm tall and got all the physical possabilities to be a strong centre back in the future. At the moment he is a bit thin and might need to build some more weight in muscle before he can be strong enough to handle poweful strikers. When it comes to tactical and techniqual skills he is already good enough Wenger sais. I can’t wait for him to get his chance on the first team.
plamen: I tried to find some videos and I found a few, but they don’t follow him especially and the photos are blury. I only spent 5 mins trying to find something in the norwegian media, but I will look again when I got time.
sincerly
torsten: thanks mate, appreciate it. i will also look around and will share any if available.
best wishes, plamen
cant find any footage of him playing, finding footage of defenders is hard in general. however i found a vid with a few nice pictures of him
http://youtube.com/watch?v=DxrKONCIXZk&feature=related
thanks a lot, just watched it. he may be a god player but needs to catch-up with weight and strength if he is to get into the first team.
plamen
I really hope Håvard will make it!
Nice to have a Norwegian in the club..:p We’re not really known for our football skills..!
Great site by the way! Keep up the good work!
Great site! I’ve been hearing great things about this lad and to gain captaincy in his first season surely shows he’s a natural leader! I have high hopes for..
Nordvedt
Vela
Wilshire
Ramsey
Barazite
I feel that these 5 out of our current crop have the potential to become WORLD class…hopefully
hey andy, add merida o your list
Do we know which of the Reserves are being promoted to the First team squad in the coming season ?
Or is that decided after pre-season ?
Wenger mentioned Wilshire - but surely a 16y/o won’t be promoted that fast ? (Cesc is a one-off).
Commanding centre half, who has a big future ahead of him. I think that he will start a few of the Carling Cup games this year.
Still to progress though in the reserves most of the time.
saw the Barnet match and i have to say that the young guns are heading in the direction.
Barazite…Wilshere…Ramsey…Coquelin..Nordveidt impressed me the most. Barazite moves and looks like Berbatov..Wilshere is a natural play-maker and a great one, upcoming Fabregas…Ramsey gets into tackles and moves the ball forward like a world-class midfielder..Coquelin is very gifted and looks a whole load of prospect there….Nordveidt just a bit more musle under the skin and we’ll be having our very own 19yr old maldini.