A mere two months in the past that the Villa attacker found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as the Villa manager scolded him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was whether his displays were a symptom or a cause of the side's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was entirely decidedly more positive. When the in-form star curled home his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician ripped off his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The team marched on to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win their opening six matches, are somehow a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Challengers?
It remains an exceptionally difficult query to address. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, suggests not. Furthermore, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, even as the wins have stacked up.
As per statistical analysis, in only two games has the team posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a team which has just won 10 in a row, the Villans appear curiously susceptible – but currently the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to rescue them with two clinical strikes. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened when facing Manchester United.
The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, arced precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second acted as a somewhat messier replica of his first as he seized 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, the opponents managed more shots and more efforts on goal. They have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.
A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge they must confront as the season progresses. The forward, surely, cannot maintain thrashing the ball into the top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists a different scenario where, instead of results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players could still return to peak condition.
- The main striker might resume scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the force he resembled in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, but they surely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, this was unforeseen. Few believed the team would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a championship pursuit while looking like an essential Three Lions star.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.
