A mere two months in the past that Morgan Rogers found himself on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while Unai Emery berated him over not reading a pass in behind. During that period, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was if his displays were an indicator or the source 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, though, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. As the England international curled home his second strike to reclaim his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, opened his arms and roared. The team were on their way to ten wins in a row , having failed to win any of their first six fixtures, now sit only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Is This Team Legitimate Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough query to address. The historical record, a general sense of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been completely commanding this season, while the victories have stacked up.
Per Opta, in only two games have Villa posted an xG notably superior than the other team. For a team which has just won a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – however right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with rivals before hoping Rogers to bail them out with some clinical strikes. It happened at Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened when facing United.
His opener originated from an exquisite effort, curled right inside the post from a wide position. His brace-completing goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of goal number one as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opposition managed more efforts and more direct attempts. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.
A statistical correction might be the most significant challenge the club will encounter in the near future. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling the football into the top corner week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Could it be another reality where, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs are set to return from injury, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
However, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt two months ago, nobody thought the young forward by the end of the year would be spearheading a title charge while looking like a vital player for the national team.
The current run must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. As the hero stood in front of the home supporters after the match leading the celebrations, he seemed to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are rare in football and should be relished.
