Leeds United were held to a 1-1 draw at Elland Road by Manchester United, with the result meaning the Whites are now unbeaten in their last seven outings.
Joe Hart was among the pundits who felt Leeds were the better side during the game against their bitter rivals, claiming United would be disappointed they didn’t pick up all three points at home.
This was a sentiment shared by Daniel Farke, who was “disappointed” to see his side give up a one-goal lead.
However, there were plenty of positives to take from the game, with former Manchester United player Owen Hargreaves waxing lyrical about one Leeds player in particular who impressed against his former employers.
Owen Hargreaves full of praise for Brenden Aaronson’s performance
Aaronson opened the scoring at Elland Road in the 62nd minute with his second goal of the season, before Leeds’ advantage was cruelly wiped out just three minutes later when Matheus Cunha also got himself on the scoresheet.
As well as his goal, Aaronson’s general play impressed both pundits and supporters, with Hargreaves labelling the American a “really good player.”
“He’s such a good player technically, and he just gambles. The weight of the pass is amazing, and the finish is perfect,” Hargreaves said after the game on punditry duties for TNT Sports when analysing Aaronson’s goal.
Hargreaves’ praise for the 25-year-old did not stop there, however, with the former Manchester United player also saying:
“Technically, he’s a really good player, he’s really good on the ball, he’s a number ten, and he wants to get on the ball, but actually, one of the most important things is making runs in behind, and he just has a feel for that at that moment.
“The touch across (Ayden) Heaven allows him to finish, and the finish is just perfect.”
Brenden Aaronson’s performance against Manchester United by the numbers
The American has been used in a variety of positions by Farke this season, with Aaronson playing as part of a midfield three for the majority of the game against Manchester United.
Whilst he has been criticised in the past, and justifiably so, Aaronson is currently in the midst of his best run of form in a Leeds United shirt, and supporters will be hoping he can replicate these performances more consistently moving forward.
| Stat | Stat Value |
|---|---|
| Minutes Played | 87 |
| Goals | 1 |
| Key Passes | 1 |
| Shots | 2 |
| Shots on Target | 1 |
| Interceptions | 1 |
| Recoveries | 8 |
Although Aaronson’s ball striking can be mediocre at best at times, he made no mistakes against Manchester United as he raced through on goal before clinically dispatching his effort on his weaker left foot, and if the American can continue to add goals like this into his game, he could quickly develop into one of Leeds’ better players.
