Just two months prior when the Villa attacker was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while Unai Emery admonished him over missing a pass in behind. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his displays were a sign or the source of the team'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 sideline response was entirely decidedly more positive. When the England international drilled in his second to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, threw his arms wide and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to a 10th successive win and despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, now sit only three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Is This Team Serious Title Contenders?
That’s a particularly tough proposition to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, even as the wins have accumulated.
As per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a club that have just won a ten-match winning streak, Villa look weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
The prevailing tactic seems to be to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on their star man to bail them out with some crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and once more against the Red Devils.
His opener originated from a superb shot, arced right inside the post from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opponents registered a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those games.
A reversion to average could be the most significant challenge they must confront in the near future. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling the football into the net's top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists a different scenario where, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players could still rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins could start scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky defence.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
However, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine the midfielder now would be leading a title charge and appearing as a crucial player for the national team.
This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. As the hero faced the home supporters at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he appeared to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
