A mere 60 days in the past when the Villa attacker stood on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager admonished him over not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained if his performances were a sign or a cause for Villa's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, however, the manager's outburst proved to be far more favourable. After Rogers drilled in his second strike to reclaim his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club marched on to ten wins in a row , after failing to win any of their first six fixtures, are somehow a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Title Contenders?
That’s an exceptionally difficult query to resolve. History, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Moreover, their performances haven't been completely commanding in many games, even as the positive results have accumulated.
According to Opta, on just two occasions has the side registered an xG notably superior than the opposition. For a side which has just won ten consecutive victories, Villa appear curiously susceptible – however at the moment the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent before hoping their talisman to rescue them with some crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more against Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal came from an exquisite effort, curled precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.
“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.”
Can It Last?
Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opponents managed more shots and more shots on target. They have won each of their last eight by a single goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those games.
Regression to the mean could be the biggest rival Villa have to face in the near future. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling the football into the top corner indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists another reality where, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players may yet find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to return from injury, bolstering a periodically leaky backline.
Perhaps there is in that the potential of a genuine bid, but they surely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
But then, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, few could imagine the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.
The current run must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. When Rogers positioned himself before the North End when the game ended conducting the cheers, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form do not happen often and should be relished.
