Analysing Christian Eriksen's Early-Season Form for Tottenham

Christian Eriksen came into this season as the only one of Tottenham Hotspur's summer 2013 signings widely regarded to have enjoyed above-average form in his first year.

Tottenham supporters voted him their player of the season for a campaign in which he scored 10 times and set up a further 10 goals. The all-round performances that accompanied those statistics were as entertaining as they were prominent in the team's better moments.

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Although there is room for improvement, Eriksen's form in the early part of 2014-15 has suggested he will maintain that level and, all being well, continue to improve.

After he spent the latter half of last season playing from a starting position of left midfield, the player has been given a more central role in new head coach Mauricio Pochettino's 4-2-3-1 system. Like with previous boss Tim Sherwood, it is not strictly defined.

As chief playmaker, he is allowed to judge for himself where he is best needed. Eriksen's heatmap for the 1-0 win over Southampton, via Spurs' official website, highlights how this can often mean all over the opposition team's half.

Pochettino's attack is designed to be fluid in possession, and the best of Eriksen's work so far has been in conjunction with his fellow attacking midfielders Nacer Chadli and Erik Lamela.

The Dane was the facilitator as Spurs battered Queens Park Rangers 4-0 in August. He pulled the strings as he floated into spaces either created or left unoccupied by Chadli and Lamela.

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In more direct combination, the trio have been productive, too. It was a Chadli cross that led to Eriksen's goal at Sunderland. The Belgian's opener versus Arsenal came after Eriksen had dispossessed Mathieu Flamini and passed to Lamela who made the assist.

The Southampton game particularly showed what the trio are capable of, and it will be hoped to be indicative of a burgeoning understanding that will increasingly come to the fore.

The highlight from Eriksen's perspective was his goal, a well-placed shot from just outside the area after a superb one-touch pass from Chadli. It had been coming. Eriksen had played a leading role as Spurs upped the pressure on the visitors prior to what proved to be the 40th-minute winner.

He and Lamela had a shot each on goal from long distance after similar moves in which they had put Southampton on the back foot with quick exchanges of passes. In the second half, the attacking midfielders continued to cause them problems as they moved the ball quickly, popping up at different points on the pitch to leave the Saints players guessing.

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The three did not often play together last season so it has been a case of them getting to know each other during competitive scenarios. Coupled with a tweaked role individually, Eriksen has subsequently had games where he has not shone so much, if at all.

In the season opener versus West Ham, he, Lamela and their third attacker that day, Aaron Lennon, struggled to get much going at all. Denied much time on the ball, Eriksen did not find his passing range. Probably in part because of rustiness, he looked to be lacking a little for ideas, too, with his off-the-ball movement minimal.

West Bromwich Albion offered a similar approach at White Hart Lane in September and similarly nullified the Denmark international's influence for Spurs. It prompted this writer to wonder whether a deeper midfield role might prove more freeing for Eriksen.

That argument has its merits for certain opposition, but he did show against Arsenal and Southampton he can adapt positionally as the game dictates. Next week's game against Manchester City will be a further test of the balance of this three behind a lone front man, and Eriksen's performances within it.

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Something also to keep an eye on moving forward will be Eriksen's continued adjustment to Pochettino's pressing game. It is not something he has taken to consistently yet, but then again, nor has the team for that matter.

It might be more noticeable with Eriksen as, asked to take on a less creative duty, it might appear to be having a detrimental effect on what he does in the final third (for instance, he has not recorded any assists yet this season).

The 22-year-old is still establishing that balance of priorities, but he has at least shown he can contribute in this regard.

In the early going against Southampton, he closed down as well as anyone as the Spurs players quickly asserted themselves. The aforementioned goal against Arsenal came from him hounding Flamini.

In the 3-0 loss to Liverpool Eriksen made tackles and interceptions that mostly served a more defensive function on that day. But it proved he can handle himself here and indeed on one occasion a little further forward did lead to a chance for Emmanuel Adebayor.

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Eriksen's already considerable talent makes it easy to forget he is still so young, and still learning. That the expectations around him are so high is testament to how well he has already done in his fledgling professional career with Ajax, Tottenham and Denmark.

Much as he is a work-in-progress altogether (albeit a high standard one), he is still getting things together this season. In keeping with the great things expected of his career, it is likely great things will come from him soon enough in 2014-15, too.