They were watching Denmark play Finland in a European Championship fixture on June 12 last year when Christian Eriksen collapsed.

The great Dane suffered a cardiac arrest and his heart stopped beating for four minutes.

"We were actually watching it in a room in Kuwait during World Cup qualifiers," Arnold told reporters.

"And it was horrifying."

Medics used a defibrillator to re-start Eriksen's heart, saving his life.

The Manchester United playmaker has returned to international football at the World Cup in Qatar.

"Fantastic. Inspirational. It's just marvellous that he's here," Arnold said.

"And it's truly great that we are going to be playing against him.

"It was such a special moment for the Danish national team as well when he came back.

"And now he's at Man United and seeing what he is doing shows the rest of the world what a strong character he is, and what a top person.

"I don't know him, of course, but you can see that when that sad moment occurred, that everyone rallied around him and behind him.

"To see him now back and being at this World Cup, it's special for us to be able to play against him."

Australian Associated Press