On June 12, 2021, the football community collectively held its breath. In Denmark's final 1-0 loss to Finland, Eriksen suddenly fell to the ground shortly before half-time. Fortunately, after CPR and defibrillation, Eriksen regained consciousness, as it was later discovered that the midfield star had suffered a cardiac arrest during the game. Some may feel that his football career is over, perhaps because Erikson intends to retire. In the days after his fainting, he installed an implantable cardioverter defibrillator device to avoid further cardiac arrest. He was unable to play in Serie A due to the device and his contract with Inter milan was terminated last year.
Yet Eriksen is eager to continue his career, and while few would consider the 30-year-old, Brentford confirmed his arrival on a January transfer deadline. Less than a month later, he made his first first-team appearance after that big day last June, replacing Matthias Jensen in the final 2-0 loss to Newcastle and winning a standing ovation at Brentford Community Stadium. While he couldn't help turn the tide, Eriksen's return to the field marked a milestone in his career. At a time when few dared to touch him, Brentford gave the midfielder great trust and was rewarded with a leap in confidence.
Of all Brentford players this season, only Ivan Tony has had a higher media rating than Eriksen, with the Danish having a direct impact on west London teams after signing. In the weeks and months after returning to the first team, few people felt he would be at ease, but it was clear that he was eager to make up for the lost time. Brentford is certainly a beneficiary of Eriksen's desire to re-establish himself as the best player in the world. Before his first game back at Newcastle, the Bees played three more games than the 18th-placed Burnley team, just four points above the relegation zone. Today, Brentford is in 13th place, just one point away from the top 10. Importantly, they now have a 12-point gap with the relegation zone.
Eriksen's influence is clear, with 12 of Brentford's 36 points this season coming from his starting four games. Moreover, these victories are not achieved against relegation opponents. Brentford won crucial victories against Norwich and Burnley, with Eriksen starting the game. But they also won against European duo Chelsea and West Ham, who performed best against the former. Fortunately for Brentford, the decision to give Eriksen a short-term contract seemed to have saved them a Premier League seat. Unfortunately for Brentford, his return to the green field means they may regret it as they only give Eriksen a six-month contract.
The decision to do so is understandable. Eriksen hasn't played in more than six months, and giving him a short-term contract is a risk in itself. Now, however, the Danish midfielder will be a free agent in the summer, with countless teams watching his future closely. The Denmark international is likely to stay in West London as he hopes to repay the trust That Thomas Frank and his colleagues have placed in him at the turn of the New Year. However, Brentford fans are upset by the fact that in a very short period of time, Eriksen has gone from being a player that no team would touch to a player that every team wants to get. After proving his ability in the top flight again in a very short period of time, former owner Tottenham was seen as interested in their older player, a move that would have linked him to Antonio Conte, who is his coach at Inter. "I like to make him a striker, so I need another No. 10 player," Conte said of Harry Kane and the club's desire to bring in a player to free up the Tottenham striker.
The remarks would have upset Brentford's loyal fans, especially in February, when Conte spoke highly of Eriksen shortly before his return, following Brentford's 2-0 win over West Ham. Speculation has influenced Tony's perception of the Danes. Asked if he would be willing to play alongside Eriksen again next season, Tony said: "I'm sure he'll be here, let's see what happens." Six of Tony's 12 goals were scored in four games in which Eriksen started, and he was the one who benefited greatly from Eriksen's influence in attacking three zones. Mbeumo's best performances this season have been against Chelsea and West Ham. With the support of players like Eriksen, the two's game took it to the next level. He added another dimension to the Bee's offense, averaging 1.6 key passes per game, which is second best for Frank's side, but they may find it difficult to get Eriksen to accept a new contract.
From a personal point of view, though, Erickson's turn of fortune in such a short period of time is undoubtedly shocking. Whether or not he will stay at Brentford, a few months of highlights will make him one of the best players in the Premier League right now.