Leeds United have so many players in a good spell of form at the moment, given Daniel Farke’s side have gone seven games unbeaten in the Premier League.
Jaka Bijol is proving why he was bought from Udinese, while Gabi Gudmundsson has been consistently good throughout. Anton Stach is thriving, Dominic Calvert-Lewin is scoring goals. Leeds are playing well.
Even those who missed Sunday’s draw with Man United, in Jayden Bogle, Joe Rodon, and Ethan Ampadu have been excellent this season. But there is one player who is actually beginning to defy the odds.
Earlier in the season, Daniel Farke had to defend Brenden Aaronson. Some of the criticism the American was getting was ridiculous, with many frustrated he kept getting picked after his miss against Burnley.
Is Brenden Aaronson our best player at the moment? 🔥
Leeds United told they have their own Anthony Gordon
Aaronson scored his second goal of the season to give Leeds the lead with a gorgeous first touch and finish with his weaker left foot. The USA international also has three assists for Farke’s Leeds so far.
Only three Leeds players have five or more goals and assists this season, with Stach and Calvert-Lewin. Joe Hart felt Aaronson deserved the MOTM award on Sunday, after Lucy Ward voted Matheus Cunha.
Speaking on NBC Sports’ 2 Robbies podcast, former Premier League strike Robbie Earle compared Aaronson to Newcastle’s £80m-rated Anthony Gordon, with Leeds facing Newcastle on Wednesday.
“I like him. I’ve written down an American version of Anthony Gordon. Young, energetic, has the ability to get goals, productivity. I watched him last week, too. His work off the ball is as important as on the ball.
“I think he’s a responsible footballer. I think at times he got tarred with the Jesse Marsch, American brush – he runs around like a headless chicken. But it was a smart finish today,” Earle added, about Aaronson.
“He’s become an important part of the team for them. His energy, his industry, in a team where you can’t have passengers after being promoted – I imagine Pochettino would value him in the National Team.”
Fill in the blank: Brenden Aaronson will finish the season with ___ goal contributions? 🤔
The American international is enjoying his best-ever Premier League season
How do Aaronson and Gordon compare this season, so far?
There is no doubt that in the Premier League, England star Gordon is a proven Premier League player. The former Everton man has had a hand in 52 goals during his 165 Premier League games for both clubs.
Aaronson has managed to score just three Premier League goals, and only laid on six assists. But if you compare the two players in England’s top flight this season, Aaronson is outdoing Gordon so far.
Five goals and assists, to Gordon’s two goals and one assist. Gordon had an XG of 4.3, while Aaronson’s is 2.6, suggesting Aaronson is proving more clinical. Aaronson’s defensive stats are much more impressive.
A total of 27 tackles won, compared to Gordon’s 12. Aaronson has won 76 duels, Gordon just 60, with only a couple of hundred minutes played, different. The USA star has 61 recoveries, Gordon just 32.
What is clear, is that Aaronson is creating his own luck through sheer hard work. He has had his critics, but if he continues in this way, “clever” Aaronson has to start week in, week out, for Farke’s Leeds.
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