A mere eight weeks in the past that Morgan Rogers was standing on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while his coach berated him over missing a pass in behind. Back then, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained whether his displays were a sign or a cause of the side's wider issues.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, however, the sideline response was much more joyous. After the in-form star drilled in his second strike to restore his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his winter coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa marched on to ten wins in a row and despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, find themselves only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Genuine Challengers?
It remains a rather hard question to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant in many games, while the positive results have piled up.
As per Opta, on just two occasions has the side registered an expected goals figure notably superior than the other team. For a club which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, they seem strangely fragile – but at the moment the margins are going in their favour.
The Winning Formula
The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with rivals before hoping their star man to rescue them with two clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and it happened versus the Red Devils.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the goal frame from a wide position. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slight scruffier version of the opener capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.
“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents had more shots and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those matches.
Regression to the mean may well be the biggest rival they will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, will not continue to drilling the ball into the top corner week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Could it be an alternative path whereby, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures might still return to peak condition.
- The centre-forward may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The attacking talent might become the player he resembled in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the possibility of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge and appearing as a crucial England player.
This winning streak should be enjoyed exactly since it seems so surreal. When Rogers faced the home supporters at the final whistle leading the celebrations, he seemed to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
