Eriksen the Gooner? Could the ex-Spurs man make the move to the Emirates

Eriksen the Gooner? Could former Tottenham Hotspur star Christian Eriksen make the move to Arsenal in the January transfer window?

By Adam Le Roux

With just days before the January transfer window opens, the rumours are already beginning to swirl around in the bitter winter air, with Arsenal fans glued to the news in the hope of news of a big name signing making his way through the doors at the Emirates. 

There will be plenty of chatter through the next month, with red herrings and gazumping galore as clubs make their move to bolster their squads heading into the run-in of both domestic and European competition. 

Arsenal are no exception to that this year, with arrivals expected to help turn around their season around after a terrible start to the campaign under Mikel Arteta. 

One man that has been linked with a move back to north London is Christian Eriksen, with the former Tottenham man rumoured to be leaving Inter Milan in the coming weeks. 

But what could the Dane bring with him to the Emirates? Let’s take a look at his credentials and find out if he is the missing piece of the puzzle in Arteta’s plans. 

Christian can fill the creative void 

Although he was not the first name on the Arsenal transfer target list, Eriksen can bring plenty of qualities to this side, with his creative spark exactly what the Gunners have been missing so far this campaign. 

With a move for Lyon’s Houssem Aouar seemingly off the table, and Hungarian talent Dominik Szobszlai opting for a switch to RB Leipzig, the Dane becomes the perfect person to fill the void in the attacking third for Mikel Arteta. 

And after being put on the transfer list by the Nerazzurri, the 28-year-old will no doubt be available for a snip of the £17m he moved to Italy for in the first place, with Inter wanting rid of him as soon as possible. 

He may not have any goal involvements this season, but you don’t become a bad player overnight, and we have all witnessed how quickly he can change a Premier League game, which is exactly what Arsenal have been crying out for. 

The vision, the range of passing, the long-range shooting ability… they are all things that the Gunners have been lacking, and exactly what Eriksen possesses, which makes him the perfect fit into this side. 

Time and time again before he left Spurs, the Dane would be the man to make the difference under Mauricio Pochettino, with his footballing intelligence a level above most players in the Premier League, as well as his pin-point set-piece delivery. 

Having only left London a year ago, the former Ajax man will need no time at all bedding back into life in the English game and as a Denmark native, the cold winters won’t be affecting him too much either. 

Having played in the Premier League for six and a half years, Eriksen knows it inside out and back to front, which is so often not the case for a number of imports who need time to adjust to their new surroundings, whereas he could hit the ground running. 

And with a number of younger players in the Arsenal match ay squad these days, a calmer, older head can make all the difference when things aren’t going your way, and that is exactly what the midfielder will bring. 

Eriksen feeding Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, with Gabriel Martinelli and Bukayo Saka on either flank is a thought that is sure to get Gunners fans purring, as he adds an added level of creativity in the squad. 

And with Emile Smith-Rowe pushing hard for a place in the first team recently, the two will keep each other on their toes for the coveted playmaking role, after the academy graduate performed so well in the Boxing Day victory over Chelsea. 

If Mesut Ozil isn’t going to be brought back into the squad, then the man who was so often giving him a run for his money in the assists category in the Premier League is a more than able replacement. 

Gooners need to give him a chance 

If Eriksen is to make the move to the Emirates, he will no doubt have a target on his back from day one given his history with Tottenham, but what he really needs is a clean slate to start with. 

We all know Arsenal fans love a scapegoat, if it’s not Ozil then it’s Granit Xhaka, and if it’s not him then it’s David Luiz and if it’s not him then it’s... The list could go on, but what any new arrival in January will need is time and patience as they build a rapport with their teammates. 

With his links to the north London rivals, some Arsenal fans won’t even want to consider his arrival this winter, but you have to appreciate quality when you see it, especially at a bargain price. 

And if there was to be one issue with Christian Eriksen, it would be the fact that he can be prone to letting his head drop and his performances being affected. 

Therefore, it is paramount that he is given a fresh crack of the whip if he makes the move and doesn’t fall foul of the toxic atmosphere that can surround the Emirates at times.

On his day he can be one of the best in the world at what he does and if he is to make the move to Arsenal in the coming weeks, he will be welcomed with open arms.

Picture Credit: Getty Images