Just 60 days prior that the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as his coach admonished him for missing a through-ball. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, it wasn't clear whether Rogers' form were a symptom or a cause of Villa's broader struggles.
“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. After the in-form star swept in his second to restore Villa's lead, the Spanish tactician ripped off his winter coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a tenth straight victory and despite not winning any of their first six games, now sit only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Title Contenders?
It remains a rather hard question to resolve. Past precedent, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been entirely convincing during this run, even as the wins have stacked up.
According to statistical analysis, in only two games has the side had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club that have put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans appear curiously susceptible – yet currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to bail them out with two clinical strikes. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened when facing United.
The initial strike came from a superb shot, arced right inside the upright from the edge of the area. For his second acted as a somewhat messier replica of his first capitalizing on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“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?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United managed a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.
A reversion to average may well be the most significant challenge the club must confront in the near future. The forward, surely, cannot maintain drilling the ball into the net's top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists an alternative path where, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins could start finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
This could contain the seeds of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
But then, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be leading a title charge while looking like a crucial player for the national team.
This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. When the match-winner positioned himself before the North End after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells do not happen often and must be appreciated.
