A mere 60 days in the past that Morgan Rogers was standing on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery admonished him for missing a through-ball. During that period, as the club endured a six-game winless run, the question was whether Rogers' form were a sign or the reason for the team's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
This weekend, in contrast, the touchline reaction was far more favourable. After Rogers curled home his second to reclaim his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician ripped off his jacket, spread his arms and roared. Villa marched on to a 10th successive win and after failing to win their initial half-dozen matches, now sit only three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Challengers?
It remains an exceptionally difficult query to address. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been entirely convincing during this run, while the victories have accumulated.
Per Opta, twice all season have Villa registered an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a side who have strung together ten consecutive victories, the Villans appear curiously susceptible – yet right now the margins are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic seems to be to trade blows with an opponent and wait for Rogers to rescue them with some crisp finishes. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and once more when facing United.
His opener came from a brilliant finish, arced right inside the post from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. Against United, the opponents had more shots and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.
A statistical correction could be the biggest rival Villa must confront as the season progresses. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.
A Case for Belief
Could it be another reality in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet find their top level.
- The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
- The winger may rediscover the performer he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo are set to regain fitness, fortifying a periodically leaky defence.
This could contain the possibility of a title challenge, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on one man.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as an essential England player.
This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it feels so unlikely. When Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form do not happen often and must be appreciated.
