Leeds United’s start to the season is down to several players coming to the fore and turning the Whites into one of the toughest teams to beat.
A few of the new signings have made a real difference to the team. James Trafford is a huge upgrade on the goalkeeping Leeds had last season, and Tarik Muharemovic is looking like a superstar in the making.
However, several Leeds stalwarts have also come to the fore this season. Ethan Ampadu is now one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, and Dominic Calvert-Lewin has scored three in the opening five Premier League games.
But one Leeds star’s performances have almost gone unnoticed, and it’s especially pertinent because his career at Elland Road seemed to be going nowhere at one point last season.
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Ao Tanaka has risen as a phoenix at Elland Road
Tanaka was the best midfielder in the Championship when Leeds got promoted, but the midfielder struggled for consistency in the Premier League last season.
The Japanese international looked a little lightweight in the top flight, and Daniel Farke seemed to have lost faith in the player at some point last season.
Between the end of January and mid-March, Tanaka was an unused substitute on the Leeds bench for seven straight Premier League games.
There were suggestions that the midfielder could be sold in the summer to bring in an upgrade, but the Japan star fought back at the end of the season.
He produced a quality cameo performance in a 0-0 draw against Brentford before looking absolutely brilliant in the win over Manchester United at Old Trafford.
Tanaka started the final seven Premier League games of the season and made it clear he wasn’t going anywhere in the summer.
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Farke has no reason to drop him at the moment
The midfielder was an unused substitute in the opening game against Nottingham Forest and played the second half of the 1-1 draw against Brentford.
However, Tanaka has started the last three Premier League games and has again established himself as one of the team’s starting midfielders.
There is serious competition for places in the Leeds midfield as Sean Longstaff is waiting in the wings and Ilia Gruev is also expected to return to the squad after the break.
However, Tanaka has given little reason for Farke to change his team unless he wants a more defensive option against Arsenal on October 10.
Tanaka should be one of the first names on the team sheet, imo. He is a class DM and could just as essily fill the role offered to Aaronson so often. Yes, he’s made mistakes, but so has Ethan, as have every player in the team … not afraid to take a shot from outside the box, can add the odd goal.