Arsenal's Mikel Arteta sends class message to Christian Eriksen ahead of emotional return

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta says Christian Eriksen’s return is ‘great news for football’ and hopes the Denmark midfielder receives a rapturous reception when he steps back onto the pitch.

Former Inter Milan and Tottenham star Eriksen joined Premier League club Brentford in January on a six-month deal.

The 30-year-old has not played since suffering a cardiac arrest during Denmark’s Euro 2020 match against Finland last summer.

Eriksen was subsequently fitted with an implanted cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) – a type of pacemaker – but was unable to continue playing in Italy with the device.

Such regulation does not exist in the Premier League, however, and the Danish star was unveiled to the Brentford fans before last weekend’s goalless draw with Crystal Palace.

While Brentford boss Thomas Frank believes Eriksen is still a week or so away from making his Bees debut, he has an outside chance of featuring against Arsenal at the Emirates on Saturday.

Discussing Eriksen’s return, Gunners manager Arteta said: ‘It would be incredible [to see him back].

‘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