Player Focus: Do Christian Eriksen's Spurs Performances Warrant Criticism?
It was indeed a successful festive period for Tottenham, of that there is no doubt. Mauricio Pochettino’s side picked up 10 points of a possible 12 to consolidate their place in the top-four. Some have even gone as far as to suggest they are the dark horse for the Premier League title, though baby steps are the order of the day as far as the north London outfit are concerned.
A Champions League return is the priority for the club, which is indeed possible if their performances over the first half of the campaign are anything to go by. Spurs have been quietly going about their business with ruthless efficiency in their ascent up the table. No team has lost fewer games than Spurs (2), though conversely no team has drawn more (9) than Pochettino’s team. Of course, he needs his team to start turning these draws into wins, but the progress made during his 18-month reign is clear for all to see.
Spurs are a team no longer boasting the soft underbelly of previous sides. On Sunday, after going 1-0 down to Everton, a past edition would have succumbed to defeat, particularly after dominating the match up until Aaron Lennon's opener. However, rather than down tools, the players fought hard to secure a positive result. The likes of Dele Alli, Erik Lamela and Mousa Dembele, not to mention the centre-back partnership of Toby Alderweireld and Jan Vertonghen, have each bought into Pochettino’s fighting philosophy. Spurs have committed more fouls (258) than any other team; Lamela (40) the most prolific fouler in the league.
No team has been awarded more yellow cards than Spurs (43), though as one of six teams yet to be awarded a red card in England’s top tier, it suggests they are pushing themselves to limit, but dare not step over the line. Yet while the players are drawing the plaudits, one who seems to have attracted the critics is Christian Eriksen. The Dane was one of the seven players signed in the wake of Gareth Bale’s record breaking move to Real Madrid and has perhaps been the most successful to date, given Lamela’s rocky start to life in England.
After an impressive beginning to his Spurs career under Andre Villas-Boas and Tim Sherwood, many felt Eriksen would be left by the wayside under Pochettino. The Argentine favours the high-pressing game, and with Eriksen something of a luxury player, many were pleasantly surprised to see the young attacker adhere to the demands of his new manager. Nevertheless, that hasn’t stopped the 23-year-old take the brunt of the blame at the first sign of undoing for Spurs.
But, are the critics vindicated in their condemnation of Eriksen? Granted, the Denmark international can at times go missing, but has still provided an effective creative outlet in the final third. The creator has registered three more assists (6) than any other Spurs player in the Premier League this season, while his average of 2.9 key passes per game is better than any other teammate, though as Spurs’ main set-piece taker, this comes as little shock.
Nonetheless, Eriksen’s creative qualities can hardly be called into question. In the final third, his eye for a defence splitting pass has helped Spurs since his arrival. During his two-and-a-half seasons in the Premier League, only Eden Hazard (237), Mesut Ozil (230) and David Silva (211) have played more key passes than Eriksen (202). Rather, his work off the ball has raised doubts, with some feeling he doesn’t offer enough to the side defensively.
Given the high press demanded by Pochettino, the players are expected to work tirelessly when not in possession in order to win the ball back. While Eriksen may adopt a casual attitude on the pitch, the fact remains is that he is working to win the ball back for his side as and when the opportunity presents itself. Eriksen has won possession in the attacking third more times (21) than any other Premier League player this season.
Moreover, his average of 1.4 tackles per game this season is his highest in England’s top tier, while 0.8 interceptions is his joint-best return. His fine work both on and off the ball has also been eclipsed by the vastly-improved performances of Lamela, who now has three goals – his best return in the Premier League – and three assists to his name this campaign.
Alli’s rise to the fore and Dembele’s re-emergence has also masked Eriksen’s consistency, meaning his impact has been overshadowed. That isn’t to say he has disappointed this campaign. Only Dembele (7.63) and Harry Kane (7.39) have gained a better WhoScored rating of Spurs players than Eriksen (7.32) this term. For a performer more often than not playing out of his favoured central position, that’s a commendable return for the player, who is evidently abiding to the instructions of his manager.
What do you make of Christian Eriksen's performances in the Premier League this season? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below
