Just two months ago when the young forward found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, seeming perplexed as his coach scolded him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, as the club endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his displays were a symptom or a cause for the team's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
In the latest match, though, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. When the England international swept in his brace-sealing goal to restore the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his jacket, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club marched on to a tenth straight victory and despite not winning any of their first six games, now sit a mere three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?
That’s an exceptionally difficult proposition to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, while the positive results have stacked up.
According to Opta, on just two occasions have Villa had an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a side which has strung together ten consecutive victories, they look curiously susceptible – yet at the moment the margins are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for Rogers to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened against the Red Devils.
His opener came from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the upright from a wide position. For his second was essentially a somewhat messier replica of his first capitalizing 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.”
Can It Last?
Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, the opponents registered 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 all except one of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean could be the greatest opponent they will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, cannot maintain drilling his shots into the net's top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is an alternative path in which, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Important figures might still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins might resume adding to his goal tally.
- The attacking talent could transform into the performer he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to regain fitness, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
But then, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely back in October, no one envisioned the midfielder now would be leading a hunt for the title and appearing as a crucial Three Lions star.
This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it seems so surreal. When the hero positioned himself before the North End after the match leading the celebrations, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
