A mere two months prior when Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while his coach berated him over missing a pass in behind. Back then, as the club went six without a win, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a sign or a cause for Villa's more general malaise.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
This weekend, however, the sideline response was far more favourable. As Rogers curled home his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss ripped off his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The team marched on to a 10th successive win , despite not winning their initial half-dozen games, now sit a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?
This is a rather hard query to address. The historical record, the perceived status of this institution, suggests not. Additionally, they have not been completely commanding in many games, even as the wins have accumulated.
According to statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa posted an xG notably superior than their opponents. For a club which has strung together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem strangely fragile – however right now the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy looks like to engage in a shootout with rivals and then rely on their star man to save the day with two clinical strikes. This was the case against Leeds, it happened in London, and it happened when facing United.
Rogers' first goal stemmed from a brilliant finish, arced just inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener as he seized 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents had more efforts and more shots on target. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.
A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge Villa have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to drilling the football past despairing goalkeepers forever.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists a different scenario where, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs might still find their top level.
- The main striker might resume finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.
Maybe within that lies the potential of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, this is a surprise. Nobody thought the team would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a title charge and appearing as a vital player for the national team.
This winning streak must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. As Rogers stood in front of the North End when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These spells do not happen often and should be relished.
