Dublin: In-form Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Christian Eriksen has credited Arsenal great Dennis Bergkamp for playing a significant role in the Dane’s creative development as a youth.
Eriksen, who helped Denmark seal qualification for the 2018 World Cup with a hat-trick in Tuesday’s 5-1 play-off win over Ireland, played under Bergkamp at Dutch side Ajax’s youth team before working his way up to the senior ranks in 2010.
The 25-year-old praised Bergkamp, who spent 11 years at Arsenal, for helping him rise to prominence ahead of Saturday’s Premier League showdown between the local rivals at the Emirates.
“In my first year at Ajax we had some sessions with Dennis Bergkamp and Wim Jonk,” Eriksen, who joined Tottenham in 2013, told Sky Sports.
“Even then, you could always see Dennis’s charisma and confidence on the ball. He always knew how to take his first touch and where the ball needed to end up afterwards.
“I learnt a lot from watching him and working with him. It helped me when I made it through to the first team.”
