Arsenal manager, Mikel Arteta, has revealed that he will be pleased to see Brentford’s new midfielder, Christian Eriksen, return to the football pitch again.
Arteta’s comment comes as The Gunners welcome The Bees to the Emirates Stadium on Saturday for their Premier League encounter.
The Spaniard expects the Danish star to get a warm reception should he make his debut for Thomas Frank’s side this Saturday having endured turbulent months since suffering a cardiac arrest at the EURO 2020.
The 30-year-old was fitted with an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator having completed all the necessary medical checks and is fit to return to football.
However, the former Tottenham player had his Inter Milan contract terminated because he was unable to continue playing in Italy with the device.
Eriksen was handed a lifeline by Frank who signed him on a six-month deal and he is expected to get his first start against Arsenal.
Speaking ahead of the game, Arteta was said, “It would be incredible [to see him back]’, Arteta said when discussing Eriksen’s return.
“He’s someone that has done incredibly well in this country, he left a big mark when he left and now he has the opportunity to come back and play.
“I remember where I was when that happened [when Eriksen collapsed] and straight away the reaction that you get, it was awful.
“It’s great news, thanks to the doctors first of all and the medical team that they saved his life probably on the day and I cannot imagine what it meant to his family, but I am sure they will be anxious, but for the football industry, I think it’s great news.
“He’s someone that has done incredibly well in this country, he left a big mark when he left and now he has the opportunity to come back and play.
“I hope [there will be a positive reception] understanding what happened and where he was a few months ago. I would like to see that.
“It’s obviously something very personal, but from my side, that would be the way that I would react to him. I will be so pleased to see him again on a football pitch.”
