Leeds United roared back to form last weekend when they beat West Ham 2-1 at Elland Road. The win brought an end to a poor run of form, and it also helped to ensure that the doubts around Brenden Aaronson’s place in the team were cleared.
Aaronson has been battling critics since he returned to Leeds last year. Initially, the fans were not ready to accept him back after he left Elland Road on loan immediately following their relegation from the Premier League in 2023.
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The Leeds faithful were not prepared to forgive him easily, even if Daniel Farke reintegrated him with the first-team squad. However, the American was a key player in the Leeds team that earned promotion back to the Premier League last season.
There were serious questions raised about whether the United States international would be able to cope in the Premier League. However, he has again been a key player in the team this season, despite constant calls for him to get dropped.
Aaronson scored his first goal of the campaign against West Ham and produced another tireless performance to earn the Man of the Match accolade. However, his underlying numbers for the season show why Farke values him.
Leeds United star Brenden Aaronson tops key Premier League metric
Aaronson has been battling critics all season. He is not a conventional winger, and that has haunted him throughout the season, with critics pointing out his lack of assists and goals.
The perception of him being nothing more than a workhorse has coloured opinion about the attacking midfielder. However, there is more to his game than just running and working hard.
A closer look at his numbers suggests he’s been one of the Premier League’s most creative wingers or attacking midfielders this season, thanks to his outstanding vision and incisive passing.
Aaronson may be the best creator in the Premier League if we consider his chance creation ratio (number of key passes per 100 passes).
Close to six out of 100 passes he plays qualify as a key pass (a pass that leads to a teammate taking a shot). He always had an eye for a pass, and the underlying numbers show his value to the Leeds team.
Aaronson’s lack of assists is more down to his teammates missing chances rather than him not creating enough from the midfield or wide areas.
Aaronson has answered his critics, but now needs to take his game to the next level
The 25-year-old’s willingness to work hard and cover every blade of grass on the pitch makes him a popular player in the dressing room, and he is a valued member of the squad.
It is clear from their reaction to him scoring the goal against West Ham last weekend that he is admired by his teammates.
With the monkey off his back, the United States international now needs to work harder to take his game to the next level and add more goals and assists to his game.
He is getting into good positions consistently and just needs that extra bit of quality and composure to become more effective in the final third.
Aaronson plays as one of the forwards in the team, so he will get judged based on goals and assists, no matter how hard he works on the pitch.
Farke values him, the teammates love him, and he is gradually winning back the fans. Aaronson is not far away from completely silencing his detractors.
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