How Eriksen went from a player few would touch to an in-demand creator

 

On June 12th 2021, the footballing world collectively held their breath. Shortly before half time in Denmark's eventual 1-0 loss to Finland, Christian Eriksen collapsed. Fortunately, following cardiopulmonary resuscitation and defibrillation, Eriksen regained consciousness as it later came to light that the creative star suffered a cardiac arrest at Telia Parken. 

 

Some may have felt his footballing career to be over, perhaps as Eriksen contemplated stepping away from the game. In the days following his collapse, he was fitted an implantable cardioverter-defibrillator device in order to avoid another cardiac arrest further down the line. Due to the presence of the device, he was unable to play in Serie A, a decision confirmed last October before his contract with Inter was mutally terminated at the end of 2021. 

 

Yet Eriksen was keen to continue his playing career and while few would consider a move for the 30-year-old, Brentford confirmed his arrival on January deadline day. Less than a month later, he made his first senior appearance following that eventful day last June, replacing Mathias Jensen in the eventual 2-0 loss to Newcastle to a standing ovation at the Brentford Community Stadium. 

 

While he was unable to help turn the deficit around, Eriksen's return to game time marked a milestone in his career. And at a time when few would touch him, Brentford took a gamble on the midfielder and are being rewarded for taking a leap of faith. 

 

Only Ivan Toney (7.32) has earned a better WhoScored rating than Eriksen (7.29) of all Brentford players this season, with the Dane making an immediate impact for the west London side following his signing. Factor in just starts, and Eriksen's rating rises to 7.60, which, since the start of March, is the sixth best in England's top tier. Few may have felt he'd go easy in the weeks and months following his return to first team action, but it's clear to see he is keen to make up for lost time. 

 

Brentford are certainly the welcome beneficiaries of Eriksen's desire to re-establish himself as one of the best in the world. Prior to his first game back against Newcastle, the Bees sat just four points above the relegation zone having, at the time, played three more games than 18th-placed Burnley. Fast forward to the present day and Brentford are 13th and just one point off 10th. Importantly, they are now 12 points clear of the drop zone. 

 

 

Eriksen's influence is clear in that 12 of the 36 points Brentford have earned this season have come in the four games he has started. And it's not as though those victories have come against primarily relegation fodder. Brentford may have earned huge wins against Norwich and Burnley with Eriksen starting, but they also did so against European-chasing pair Chelsea and West Ham, with his best rated display coming against the former. 

 

Fortunately for Brentford, is that the decision to hand Eriksen a short-term deal looks to have seen them consolidate a Premier League spot. Unfortunately for Brentford, is that his return to the fore means they could be made to rue only hand Eriksen a six-month deal. 

 

The decision to do so was understandable. It had been over six months since Eriksen had last played a competitive game and it was a risk in itself handing him a short-term contract. Yet now a free agent in the summer, the vultures are circling the Brentford Community Stadium. The Denmark international may well stick around in west London as he looks to repay the belief Thomas Frank and co. showed in him at the turn of year, however the uncomfortable truth for Brentford fans is that Eriksen, in a very short space of time, has gone from a player no team would touch to one every team would love to get their hands on. 

 

Having again proven his credentials at the top level in a short space of time, former employers Tottenham have been credited with an interest in their former creator, a move that would see him link up with Antonio Conte, his coach during their time with Inter together. "But I like to have him as a striker and then eventually another number 10," Conte said of Harry Kane and the club's desire to bring in a player to push the Spurs striker upfield. 

 

The comments will have left an uneasy feeling among the Brentford faithful, particularly as Conte spoke highly of Eriksen back in February shortly before his return to action, not that speculation influenced Toney's thoughts on the Dane after Brentford's 2-0 win over West Ham. When asked if he'd like to play with Eriksen again next season following victory over their London rivals, Toney said: "I am sure he will be here, let’s see what happens." 

 

Six of Toney's 12 goals have been scored in the four games Eriksen has started, and he is one who has benefitted immeasurably from the latter's influence in the final third. Bryan Mbeumo's best rated performances this season came against Chelsea and West Ham. With the a player of Eriksen's ilk in support, the pair's game has gone up another level. He adds another dimension to the Bees attack, with a return of 1.6 key passes per 90 the second best for Frank's side, but they may yet find it very hard to tie Eriksen down to a new deal. 

 

From a personal viewpoint, though, the turnaround in fortunes for Eriksen in such a short space of time has been nothing short of sensational. Whether he remains at Brentford or not, a whirlwind few months is culminating in his return as one of the best in the game.

How Eriksen went from a player few would touch to an in-demand creator