Ao Tanaka earns praise following strong Leeds United performance

Japanese midfielder Ao Tanaka is receiving significant praise in England following his performance with Leeds United in the Premier League. Under manager Daniel Farke, Leeds has maintained a strong start to the season, currently sitting in 7th place after six matches.

Tanaka’s impact was particularly noted during a recent match against Arsenal, where he played 71 minutes. Statistical data from FotMob indicated he covered 8.9 kilometers, reached a top speed of 30.2 km/h, maintained an 84% pass success rate, and contributed seven defensive actions.

Former England defender Micah Richards praised Tanaka on ‘The Rest Is Football’, stating, “Ao Tanaka was wonderful.” Additionally, England legend Alan Shearer expressed his impression with Leeds' ability to compete on equal terms with Arsenal, noting the toughness of the squad.