Arsenal vs Tottenham Hotspur: Christian Eriksen legitimately average

Arsenal and Tottenham seem to both be unified in their heralding of Christian Eriksen. But this season? What is there to fear this season?

This is going to be a popular take going into the North London Derby. Arsenal supporters are sold on their fear of Christian Eriksen and Tottenham supporters and players are speaking of him like he’s the second-coming of Christ. Like he has graced us mortals with his presence from atop Olympus.

I don’t get it. I’m fully aware of what Eriksen is capable of. He showed us what he is capable of when he single-handedly eviscerated Ireland. But for starters, that was international and as Mesut Ozil has showed us, internationals do not translate to the club level.

And while we are on the topic of Ozil, let me drop another comparison out there. Both Eriksen and Ozil are premium creators. No one can deny that. But hearing everyone gush over the Dane makes me wonder what it would be like if the shoe were on the other foot, and everyone were gushing over Ozil.

I’d laugh. Yes, I know what Ozil is capable of but right now? He just isn’t that great and he is easy to handle.

Eriksen is in the exact same boat. And I’m going to give you the numbers to prove it. Numbers stacked up to Ozil, who is constantly criticized for his lack of results (by everyone including myself).

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Let’s start with the big one – creation. Because that’s what they are known for, right? Eriksen isn’t even leading Tottenham in chances created. His 2.2 is paltry. It’s 8th in the league. Ben Davies creates more chances than Eriksen.

To continue on that strand, he has the exact same number of assists as Ozil, who I will remind you again, is having a terrible season.

And just to make things really entertaining, let’s talk winning the ball back, an attribute that Ozil will be hounded about for the rest of his days on this earth. Ozil wins the ball back more than Eriksen! The German averages 1.6 ball-winning plays and the Dane averages 1.5.

Ozil completes more dribbles per appearance and he loses the ball less. Not to mention that Ozil has played 300 less minutes than Eriksen.

Sure, Eriksen has two more goals, I’ll concede that. But literally every other statistical category favors Ozil. I don’t care what Eriksen did to Ireland. It doesn’t matter. It showed what he is capable of just like how Ozil showed what he was capable of against Everton. But guess which one matters more?

Next: North London Derby Combined XI

Stop pretending like Eriksen is the monster under the bed that’s going to eat us. He’s not been that good this year. He’s been bang average and I’m not just saying that for attention. The man’s been on my fantasy team too, so I’m an authority. Average.

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