The 2022-23 season is a disastrous memory for Leeds United fans. There was optimism after Jesse Marsch had kept Leeds in the Premier League, but there need not have been any.
Marsch’s actual impact during that first six months is disputed, with many of the opinion that it was actually Raphinha’s brilliance that proved decisive. His assist against Norwich, his final-day display.
PROVE ME WRONG – Brenden Aaronson is Leeds’ most underrated player 🦅
Aaronson was impressive again against Sunderland
Credit: Michael Regan/Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
Leeds sold Raphinha and Kalvin Phillips that summer for a combined £100m and spent the incoming on six or seven players. In came the likes of Marc Roca, Luis Sinisterra, Tyler Adams and Rasmus Kristensen.
Dross, ultimately, that have already been offloaded by the club. Another was Brenden Aaronson, who at times during the 22-23 season was largely seen as the club’s bright spark. But it didn’t last very long.
Photo by Robbie Jay Barratt – AMA/Getty ImagesBrenden Aaronson has already matched his 2022-23 output
Aaronson endured a poor first season at Leeds, much like the entirety of the Leeds squad, producing just one goal and three assists in 36 Premier League appearances. He played over 2000 minutes in the league.
Aaronson has had to endure plenty of criticism after going out on loan in Daniel Farke’s first season, and struggling in his second even if he started 44 of 46 Championship matches. He had a hand in 11 goals.
Aaronson is back in the Premier League and is in and out of the starting line-up. Having laid on an assist for Dominic Calvert-Lewin on Sunday, what is interesting is that Aaronson has matched his 22-23 stats.
MORE LEEDS UNITED STORIES
In 2022-23, he got one goal and three assists in 36 games, clocking up 2383 minutes. A rate of a goal or an assist every 596 minutes. This season, a goal and three assists in 1005 minutes, one every 251 minutes.
Is Brenden Aaronson getting the credit he deserves? 😤
As of December 29, after the 1-1 draw v Sunderland.
Photo by Michael Regan/Getty Images
👇 Join the debate; share your insight. Use the comment button on the bottom left to have your say
How many goals and assists can Brenden Aaronson reach?
If Aaronson continues at this rate, with 20 Premier League games left to play, Aaronson will add another seven goals and assists to his tally. That is, if he plays every single remaining minute in the next 20 games.
Aaronson is playing for more this season, and that is to book himself a World Cup ticket, especially with the World Cup taking place in America next summer. He will be desperate to tempt Mauricio Pochettino.
Stuart Dallas heaped praise on Aaronson after his display against Sunderland and rightly so. If the £25m man can reach double figures when it comes to involvements, the playmaker can deem it a good season.
Join Our Newsletter
Receive a digest of our best Leeds content each week direct to your mailbox