Christian Eriksen again shows his value to Tottenham in Brighton win

It wasn’t a pretty win, but nonetheless Tottenham picked up a vital three points, thanks in large part to Christian Eriksen’s ability to find an incisive pass.

VAR again hit Spurs between the eyes as Harry Kane was adjudged to be offside by an armpit, which turned the tide in the first half. Brighton then scored on a free kick after a poor call on Harry Winks, who will miss the Norwich match after receiving a yellow for his fifth bookable offence.

Tottenham managed to come back in the second half, scoring two unanswered to hang on for the 2-1 win, avenging an earlier 3-0 defeat at Brighton & Hove Albion in October. So, what can we take away from this victory against a middling club?

Eriksen’s Value to Spurs

Yes, it was Eriksen’s deft chip pass that led to Spurs’ winner. Serge Aurier one-touched the fantastic ball back to Dele Alli, who finished with aplomb.  Eriksen’s value to the club was once again on display on Boxing Day. Nobody has the technical ability at Spurs to play a pass like he does, which was blatantly obvious in the first half.

When Eriksen plays, he is usually the one that unlocks the opposition with a telling pass. The Dane also presses in a more advanced role than his central midfield counterparts, helping alleviate some of Kane and Dele’s workload.

If Mourinho and Tottenham can’t get him to sign a new deal, which seems inevitable at this stage, Spurs need to go outside the club to find a like-for-like replacement, no easy task.

Fighting for the Shirt

Although often criticized, Serge Aurier was excellent today. He still makes mistakes but no one can question his effort and intensity on the pitch since Jose Mourinho took over.

Aurier had several decent runs up the right today and worked his socks off throughout. It was also his deft one-touch pass which led to Dele’s cute winner.

Speaking of giving their all, the effort from both Harry Kane and Dele Alli today was terrific. While Dele’s passing was miserable, his consistent push on the defensive side of the ball created was a big part of the side’s success on the day. His sixth goal of the league season – one more than all last year – and Dele’s contribution for Spurs was complete.

While it was Eriksen’s introduction that provided the creative spark today, Harry Kane’s efforts in the middle of the pitch were vital for Spurs. There was a 15-minute period in the second half where Kane took the game over, harrying defenders and propelling Spurs forward. And his finish showed the captain’s determination, poise and potency simultaneously.

What’s Next for Tottenham

After the big win to get back on track, Tottenham have only 48 hours to recover before facing Norwich City at Carrow Road. While Norwich are a bottom club fighting to avoid relegation, it is already clear Spurs will be without Harry Winks and Moussa Sissoko, who picked up a cheap yellow card late for a retaliatory push in the back.

Add in Son’s suspension and it is hard to say what we will see in Spurs midfield on Saturday, particularly if Dele – who looked a to pick up a knock late – is unable to play. Regardless, this is a busy time and no one wants to hear excuses, so Spurs need to buckle up and battle for the war that awaits if they hope to stay in the fight for the top four.