Credit: Imago

Daniel Davis

Mon 16 March 2026 14:20, UK

The time has come for Leeds United to bite the bullet and drop Brenden Aaronson.

That is the shifting sentiment among a growing number of supporters who would have been frustrated by his latest below-par display in the 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace.

Aaronson did not stamp his authority at Selhurst Park before being taken off at half-time and replaced by Jayden Bogle, the visitors having been reduced to 10 men.

While the Whites very much hold their Premier League survival fate in their own hands, Daniel Farke must be brutal with his selections and tactics to drag his side over the line.

After the stalemate in South London, Aaronson’s spot in the XI should be under scrutiny.

How did Brenden Aaronson do vs Crystal Palace?

The American international has been a fixture in Farke’s side this season, featuring in 29 of 30 Premier League matches, but his influence has slowly faded.

Indeed, Aaronson has now gone 11 games without recording a goal or an assist, with his brace against Newcastle in January his last contributions of note.

His performance at Palace encapsulated this concerning slump.

As shown by the Sofascore graphic below, Aaronson took two shots, seeing one blocked while another was off target, while he made just six accurate passes from eight attempts.

Worryingly, two of his five passes inside his own half went astray, and he lost possession seven times despite taking only 19 touches, which put his team-mates under pressure.

He did roll up his sleeves for the visitors’ defensive effort, making two clearances and two recoveries, but Farke still decided to opt to remove him at the interval.

Speaking after the game, former Leeds defender Jon Newsome urged the head coach to finally drop Aaronson for the next match against Brentford this Saturday.

He told BBC Radio Leeds: “Maybe chuck [Sean] Longstaff in there instead of Aaronson.

“I didn’t think Aaronson was great. He got caught in possession a lot, and the game bypassed him a little bit. He had a really good chance on his left foot that he pulled wide.”

Newsome is right: Farke can no longer justify persisting with Aaronson.

Sean Longstaff deserves an opportunity

Longstaff, on the other hand, deserves minutes, especially after inspiring Leeds to their 3-0 victory against Norwich City in the FA Cup earlier this month.

On that occasion, the midfielder scored a superb goal and ran the show, handing his boss food for thought. However, this has not translated into his big Premier League shot.

The 28-year-old is an all-rounder, while his willingness to take matters into his own hands by carrying the ball to the edge of the penalty area can be a useful tool.

He is also smart and a good reader of the game, and it is this calmness in deeper positions that could prove the difference between survival and relegation this season.

With Brentford up next at Elland Road, Longstaff will certainly be hoping to start.