Tottenham left it late to defeat Swansea on Sunday after falling behind but the slender 2-1 scoreline was a misleading one.
The Swans bravely endured a barrage on their goal before finally conceding twice in the space of seven minutes in the second half. It should have been more comfortable for Spurs but a combination of poor finishing and heroics in the Swansea goal from Lukasz Fabianski meant they could only muster two goals from their 34 attempts. On another day, it could have been a cricket score.
With the way Tottenham have played this season, it is often hard to pick out a single star performer as their team ethic is integral to their success. But there was no doubt that it was Christian Eriksen who ran the show against Swansea. The Dane has enjoyed an upturn in form since the turn of the year after a slow start to the season and looks to be back to his best. His display on Sunday showcased everything he is capable of.
A few months ago it was a different story. He was struggling to impose himself and was not making much of a contribution in comparison to last season. It was always going to be hard to replicate a season in which he scored 12 goals, so many of them vital late winners, but he seemed to be fading away rather than building on it this term.
That seems just a hazy memory now and his return to form could be vital heading into the final stages of an unlikely title challenge. The former Ajax man is just as capable of controlling a game as he is winning it with a moment of magic, amassing seven goals to go alongside nine assists this campaign. At the start of February he had created the most chances (29) of any Premier League player in 2016. He has hit his stride at the perfect time.
His latest performance demonstrated his brilliant creative ability. He had the most shots on goal (six), the most successful passes (59), the second-most chances created (three) and the most take-ons (three) of anyone on the pitch. He was at the centre of everything offensively.
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His influence goes beyond stats. Although he was not directly involved in either goal, every touch, every pass and every dribble Eriksen made had a purpose. He keeps the team ticking over. He always finds space to receive the ball in good areas and keeps his marker guessing where he will pop up, his next move always at the front of his mind. He is not as flashy as other attacking midfielders in the Premier League but he is certainly one of the most effective. A lot of his good work just goes unnoticed.
It is perhaps a little more surprising to see how much work he does defensively. He has developed a different side of his game that not many other number 10s possess. Against Swansea, he recorded the most ball recoveries (10) and nabbed the second most interceptions (five) of any other player. He is one of the top 10 players in the league when it comes to covering ground (11.5 km on average) every game.
He works incredibly hard when his team does not have possession, just so he can help win back the ball and have a chance to create something special with it at his feet again. He buys fully into the team around him – not a liability or luxury. He just does not stop running. Not many other creative players in the league play with that same commitment.
There were murmurings when Mauricio Pochettino arrived in 2014 that Eriksen could be one of the first out the door as he would not be able to handle the Argentine’s rigorous demands. But he has added to his skillset and it has made him a more complete player.
With his tenacious work off the ball combining with his mercurial creative abilities, Pochettino could not ask for a number 10 better suited to his system. He has put his disappointing start to the season behind him and is starting to hit a new level of performance. Harry Kane and Dele Alli might steal the headlines, but Eriksen, the unlikely workhorse, is just as important for Tottenham as they push towards their first title since 1961.
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