Brenden Aaronson deserves more respect at Leeds, this shock Premier League stat proves why
Brenden Aaronson has been heavily criticised at times during his Leeds United career.
The USA international is not a particularly popular figure at Elland Road, with many feeling that his performances have never lived up to expectations on a consistent basis.
Aaronson netted the opener for Leeds in their 2-1 victory over West Ham on Friday night, in what could be a crucial three points in his side’s fight for survival.
It was his first Premier League goal since August 2022, just months after he joined the Whites, but his recent performances have gone far beyond his goal on Friday.
Brenden Aaronson tops Premier League chance creation ratio
Aaronson’s performances for Leeds have often drawn criticism over the course of the last year or so, as he failed to have the devastating impact that many expected from a former £24million player in the Championship.
The 25-year-old ended the campaign with a respectable 11 goal contributions in the second tier, but he has never quite been able to fight off the weight of the expectation on him.
- Aaronson managed just four goal contributions during his previous Premier League campaign in 2022-23
- His tally of nine league goals last term was the highest of his professional career
Aaronson has often been made into a scapegoat at times in LS11, but Leeds fans should put more respect on his name after the emergence of this impressive stat relating to his performances this season.
The former Red Bull Salzburg man is currently outperforming all other wingers and attacking midfielders in the Premier League in terms of his chance creation ratio, according to DataMB via their X account.
The metric is defined by the data provider as the number of key passes played per 100 passes, and Aaronson’s success in this department showcases the fact that he regularly plays telling passes that create opportunities for his teammates.
Nobody in the league can match his tally of 5.95, and with that in mind, the Elland Road faithful should perhaps be a little more grateful to have him in their ranks, given the quality that he can provide.
Leeds’ striker woes create goalscoring need for Brenden Aaronson
Dominic Calvert-Lewin has struggled since his move to Leeds in the summer, and Joel Piroe is also receiving limited gametime so far this term.
The Whites’ bright start to the campaign will be tempered somewhat by the concerns at the top of the pitch, as their frontmen simply do not look likely to supply enough goals to keep them in the league.
With that in mind, they need more regular contributions in front of goal from the likes of Aaronson, who possesses all the qualities to be more of a penalty box threat than he has in the past.
If Daniel Farke can squeeze every last drop out of the likes of him, Noah Okafor and Wilfried Gnonto, then his team should have no issues when it comes to beating the drop, as their general performance level has been strong so far.
Enjoyed this article? Stay connected with all the latest Leeds United news, updates, and behind-the-scenes content by following us on our new Instagram account – @motleedsnews