A mere 60 days ago when the Villa attacker stood on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused as Unai Emery berated him for failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, as the club failed to win in six, the question was if his displays were a sign or the source for the side's wider issues.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
This weekend, though, the manager's outburst proved to be far more favourable. As the in-form star swept in his second strike to restore his side's advantage, the boss discarded his coat, spread his arms and roared. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win and after failing to win their opening six games, find themselves just three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Challengers?
That’s a particularly tough query to answer. The historical record, a general sense of this institution, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding during this run, even as the wins have stacked up.
As per Opta, on just two occasions has the side had an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club that have put together 10 in a row, they seem weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the margins are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach looks like to trade blows with the opposition and then rely on Rogers to rescue them with some clinical strikes. This occurred at Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and again against United.
His opener stemmed from a superb shot, curled just inside the goal frame from a wide position. The follow-up goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized 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?
Logic says not. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more shots and more direct attempts. They have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all but one of those matches.
Regression to the mean might be the biggest rival the club will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting his shots into the top corner forever.
A Case for Belief
Perhaps there is another reality whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs may yet find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins might resume scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the force he showed during his peak.
- The defensive duo will eventually regain fitness, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like a crucial player for the national team.
This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. As the match-winner faced the North End when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
