Analysing Christian Eriksen's Early Season-Form for Tottenham

Tottenham's early-season form has been encouraging.

Built upon a foundation of solid defence, Spurs have ground their way to points. They are in a five-way tie for the Premier League's best defence, having allowed just seven goals. Of those seven, two were scored by their own players.

That record has them on track to concede just 33 in a full season—20 fewer than they did in the 2014-15 season.

However, that defensive resolve has not yet been matched by a sputtering attack.

Newly promoted Norwich City are one of nine teams to have outscored Mauricio Pochettino's goal-shy side.

Spurs have been unfortunate on several occasions, but there is no denying that Harry Kane is experiencing his most difficult period as a senior player. Though Kane's contribution in buildup play continues to be highly valued, he is struggling to score goals.

Christian Eriksen was one of Tottenham's most important attacking players last season. When Kane didn't score, Eriksen often did. He took some of the scoring burden off the young striker's shoulders.

The fact that Eriksen only registered two assists in 38 Premier League appearances is more telling of the pointlessness of obsessing over numbers than his actual form.

Usually deployed through the middle or out on the left flank, Eriksen chose his moments carefully and repeatedly left a decisive influence.

The little Dane struggled towards the end of a gruelling season, but he was unfairly singled out for criticism,given the valuable contribution he had made in earlier months.

Again and again, Eriksen rescued Spurs with late goals and assists, all while adapting to Pochettino's demanding system.

Glenn Nicholls/Associated Press

When Tottenham were at their best, Eriksen was deeply involved.

So far this season, that importance has been emphasised both when he has played and by his injury-enforced absences.

Without their diminutive Danish playmaker, Spurs have looked predictable and stagnant in attack.

The goalless draw against Everton was a perfect example of Tottenham longing for Eriksen's influence.

The emergence of the Heung-Min Son-Dele Alli partnership has proven a surprising source of dynamism, but Eriksen's influence is still clearly needed. This is not a case of a player's reputation growing in his absence. It was a certainty that the loss of Eriksen for any significant period would be a blow.

Returning from injury against Crystal Palace, Eriksen laid on the winning goal with his first touch.

His effectiveness at free-kicks is now so renowned that goalkeepers are seemingly paralysed by indecision. Against Swansea, Eriksen rescued his team with a pair of fine free-kicks with Lukasz Fabianski clearly baffled.

Eriksen is not a certainty to score from every dangerous set piece, but he seems to be as close to that mark as any player in the league.

As Fabianski's skittish display showed, Eriksen's reputation now precedes him.

That is an invaluable asset, particularly for a team that is struggling to score from open play.

While free-kicks are a great strength for Eriksen, they do not define him. Instead, his ability to find time and space in dangerous areas marks him out as a special player. When opposition teams compress, Eriksen consistently pops up in space.

Even in the early games of this season, when he was clearly not at 100 per cent, there were flashes of that unique capacity for evasiveness.

Those incisive moments have been vital to a Tottenham team that is still finding its way.

Without Eriksen's influence, Spurs' improvement from last season would be much tougher to discern.

The Crystal Palace and Swansea matches could have ended far differently if not for his moments of magic.

Despite being partly responsible for Spurs' solid start, he has been evidently below his best so far.

Whether he was feeling the knee injury that eventually saw him miss more than a month of action is unclear. Perhaps he, like his team, was struggling to adjust to a tweaked system in the early weeks.

Once he returned, he certainly seemed brighter but was struggling for fitness.

The injury that hampered his start to the season has apparently now abated, as he played 143 minutes for Denmark over the international break. That vital time on the pitch will help Spurs immensely. He should now be close to full fitness.

Through both accident and design, Pochettino has adapted his system this season.

A host of injuries to his midfield corps, Eriksen included, as well as a failure to reinforce that position in the summer have seen Eric Dier drafted into a new position.

That move now appears to be one of Pochettino's shrewdest, with Dier excelling beyond any reasonable expectations. His excellent form as a midfield destroyer has played a major role in Spurs' fine defensive record.

Tottenham's back line now has the protection it has lacked for years.

Having essentially replaced the injured Nabil Bentaleb in Tottenham's midfield, Dier has changed its character. He lacks the playmaking skills and footballing instincts that the Algerian brings to the game, and this places greater pressure on his midfield partner and the attacking line behind the main striker.

If Dier continues to be first choice in the middle, and he should, Eriksen's form will be even more important to Tottenham's success.

His indifferent early-season form will not be enough, but the indications following his return from injury are that he is approaching his best once again.

Eriksen has played just twice with summer signing Son so far. In fact, the pair have only shared 81 minutes on the pitch.

The 13 minutes against Palace hinted at great things.

Starting against Manchester City together, the pair shone once again.

Son's excellent pace and anticipation are the perfect complements to Eriksen's vision and range of passing.

Eriksen's assist for Son's winner against Palace was indicative of the fact that, combined, they will pose a significant danger to Tottenham's opposition.

Both have had some bright moments in the early part of this season, but it was the brief time they spent together that should have the fans most excited.