Just two months ago when the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while his coach scolded him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, the question was whether Rogers' form were a sign or the reason of Villa's wider issues.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
On Sunday, however, the sideline response proved to be much more joyous. When the England international swept in his second to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery tore off his coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The team continued to ten wins in a row and despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, now sit a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?
This is an exceptionally difficult question to answer. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding in many games, despite the fact the wins have stacked up.
According to the data, on just two occasions have Villa registered an xG notably superior than the other team. For a side who have put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem strangely fragile – yet right now the fine lines are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach looks like to exchange chances with an opponent and then rely on their talisman to rescue them with some precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again versus United.
His opener came from a superb shot, bent just inside the upright from a wide position. For his second was essentially a slight scruffier version of goal number one as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more shots and more shots on target. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.
A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival the club have to face in the near future. The forward, almost certainly, cannot keep on thrashing his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.
A Case for Belief
Could it be another reality in which, instead of results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
- The attacking talent could transform into the performer he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky backline.
This could contain the potential for a sustained push, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
However, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge while looking like a vital Three Lions star.
The current run is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match conducting the cheers, he appeared to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are rare in football and must be appreciated.
