Just 60 days prior when Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager berated him for missing a pass in behind. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained if Rogers' form were an indicator or the reason for Villa's wider issues.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, however, the manager's outburst was entirely decidedly more positive. When the in-form star swept in his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his coat, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club continued to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win any of their first six matches, find themselves just three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Serious Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough proposition to address. The historical record, the perceived status of the club, argues against it. Additionally, they have not been completely commanding in many games, while the victories have piled up.
As per the data, on just two occasions has the team posted an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a club which has strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa appear curiously susceptible – however at the moment the margins are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to trade blows with an opponent and wait for their star man to rescue them with a couple of clinical strikes. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened in London, and it happened against Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent right inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
Can It Last?
Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.
A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, cannot maintain thrashing his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Maybe there exists another reality in which, instead of luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.
- The centre-forward could start scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the player he resembled in Germany.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to regain fitness, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable backline.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit third at Christmas. And most definitely earlier this season, no one envisioned the midfielder by the end of the year would be leading a title charge while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.
This winning streak should be enjoyed exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the hero positioned himself before the Villa faithful at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells do not happen often and must be appreciated.
