It has been an interesting start to the Premier League season for Brenden Aaronson. Not many will have seen The American retaining his place in Daniel Farke’s starting line-up after promotion.
Aaronson, included. It is believed Aaronson even considered a return to German football before opting to remain at Elland Road this season. It is a move that has proved to have paid off for the £25m signing.
The former Salzburg ace was a sub for Leeds’ first three Premier League games, but has since started the last seven matches. After missing a sitter against Burnley, Aaronson scored in the win against West Ham.
Probably his best performance in a Leeds shirt, also hitting the bar after a mazy run through the middle of the pitch. Now back in the America squad ahead of a home World Cup, Aaronson will be very pleased.
Brenden Aaronson in action for Leeds during a Premier League clash against West Ham
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty Images
Aaronson more of a threat than Man City’s Phil Foden currently
The stats show that actually, Aaronson is proving to be a danger in the final third, as well. Whether that be creating chances for his teammates, or getting himself into scoring positions as well, like West Ham.
Aaronson is averaging an XG+XA [expected goals and expected assists] of 0.43 a game at the moment. It is the same as Jack Grealish at Everton, and Chelsea’s Joao Pedro. The trio are joint 37th in the league.
Impressive, given Aaronson’s goal against West Ham remains his only goal involvement so far. That is not all down to Aaronson, with the player making chances against Bournemouth, Tottenham and more.
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Interestingly, Aaronson has a better XG+XA per 90 than some big-name Premier League players. Man City’s Phil Foden is in 50th with 0.38, while Newcastle United’s Anthony Gordon is in joint 45th with 0.40.
Position in PL Name XG+XA per90
1st and 2nd Erling HaalandEddie Nketiah 1.161.08
5th Lukas Nmecha 0.85
Joint 37th Brenden AaronsonJoao PedroAntoine SemenyoJack Grealish 0.43
Joint 45th Anthony GordonDavid Brooks 0.40
Joint 49th Callum WilsonPhil Foden 0.38
Joint 55th Emi BuendiaNoah OkaforWilson IsidorGabriel MartinelliAlejandro GarnachoMatheus Cunha 0.35
Is Brenden Aaronson performance to his Leeds United XG+XA?
The simple answer is, no. However, that is not all down to Aaronson himself. While he should have scored the gilt-edged chance he was afforded against Burnley, chances he has created have also been missed.
Phil Foden in action for Man City.
Photo by Shaun Brooks – CameraSport via Getty Images
His overhead kick towards Dominic Calvert-Lewin against Bournemouth, for example, should have gone in. But Calvert-Lewin headed tamely at the goalkeeper. His effort led to Okafor’s goal against Spurs.
Aaronson has an expected XG+XA of 3.04 so far in the Premier League. It means he should be on at least three goals and assists so far, but the American has one. He and his teammates need to take chances.
Whether he gets the chance to do that on Sunday afternoon, when Leeds go to Nottingham Forest, remains to be seen. Dan James is fit again and Willy Gnonto is expected to be involved after injury.