There is little doubting that Christian Eriksen is one of the Premier League’s best playmakers, with the Danish midfielder a critical member of the Tottenham Hotspur ranks.
When the former Ajax man is not on the field, Spurs can find it hard to break opponents down and he is the metronome that makes the side’s attack tick.
However, despite Eriksen’s superb ability with the ball at his feet, it is what he does when his team are not in possession that epitomises Tottenham under Mauricio Pochettino.
With ten minutes of an all-action North London Derby to play on Saturday, the attacking midfielder was still endlessly running to close down the opposition, sprinting to hassle and harry the Arsenal defenders.
Pochettino’s insistence on Tottenham’s players being fit is well-documented and Eriksen’s energy and physical conditioning are admirable.
However, it is his attitude and determination to continually work off the ball that shows what Spurs are all about at the moment.
The Premier League released figures of which top-flight players had ran the furthest distance this season back in November – at that time Eriksen was Tottenham’s highest and sixth in the division on 126km.
Looking at Saturday’s game, to compare the Spurs playmaker’s attitude and work-rate to Mesut Ozil at the other end of the pitch showcases a glaring imbalance.
Eriksen had much more of an impact while in possession, but it was the Tottenham man’s willingness to work for his team, compared to the languid and nonchalant style of the Arsenal playmaker, that was telling.
The Dane is a firm favourite of the Spurs fans and one of Pochettino’s most-trusted players – it is easy to see why.