It was eight weeks prior when the Villa attacker found himself on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while Unai Emery admonished him for not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, as Villa failed to win in six, doubts remained if his performances were an indicator or the source for the side'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 was far more favourable. When the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to reclaim Villa's lead, Emery ripped off his coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory , having failed to win any of their first six games, find themselves a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Title Contenders?
It remains a rather hard question to address. Past precedent, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding during this run, while the wins have piled up.
As per Opta, in only two games has the team posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side which has strung together ten consecutive victories, they seem curiously susceptible – yet right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach appears to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on their talisman to rescue them with some crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and again when facing United.
The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second acted as a somewhat messier replica of his first capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents managed more shots and more shots on target. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent they must confront as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to drilling the football into the top corner week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is a different scenario whereby, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players could still return to peak condition.
- The main striker could start adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho might become the force he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs are set to regain fitness, bolstering a periodically leaky defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt back in October, no one envisioned Rogers now would be leading a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed precisely because it feels so unlikely. As Rogers faced the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.
