Although it was common knowledge that Bale was off to Madrid this summer, this was the first game Spurs had played since the Welshman signed for the Spanish giants, and there were plenty of questions for Andre Villas-Boas' men to answer.
After not scoring from open play in their first three games - the last one a painful loss at Arsenal - there were worries that Tottenham lacked creativity and a killer instinct in front of goal.
Those questions were well and truly answered at White Hart Lane as Eriksen put on a skilful and dynamic display in his first game in the white shirt of Spurs.
Eriksen had a part to play in the two goals - both of them scored by Gylfi Sigurdsson - and the Dane slotted perfectly in to the side even though he has just had three training sessions with his new team-mates following his ?11.5million move from Ajax.
Andros Townsend also showed Bale-esque qualities down the flank, cutting in to test John Ruddy, while there was also an industrious display from Danny Rose at left-back.
So after registering three wins in four matches, the season seems to be shaping up well for Villas-Boas despite the loss of Bale.
Bale's importance to Tottenham was underlined prior to kick-off when the big screen at White Hart Lane showed replays of the Welshman's stunning strikes against the Canaries over the last two seasons.
But Townsend, the man many have looked to as a natural replacement for Bale, started off with a performance that the Real Madrid star would have been proud of.
The winger cut in off the right wing and shimmied past a defender before cracking a low drive just wide.
Source: PA
Source: PA