It was eight weeks prior that the Villa attacker found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as his coach berated him over failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. Back then, as Villa went six without a win, the question was if Rogers' form were a sign or the source of the side's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, though, the sideline response proved to be decidedly more positive. As Rogers curled home his second strike to reclaim the lead for Villa, Emery discarded his jacket, threw his arms wide and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, now sit only three points adrift of pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?
It remains a rather hard query to resolve. The historical record, the perceived status of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, despite the fact the wins have piled up.
As per statistical analysis, on just two occasions have Villa posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a side who have just won 10 in a row, they look strangely fragile – however at the moment the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with an opponent and wait for their star man to bail them out with some crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and once more versus United.
Rogers' first goal originated from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of his first 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. During the latest victory, Manchester United had more shots and more direct attempts. The team has won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all but one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average may well be the most significant challenge Villa must confront as the season progresses. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing the ball into the top corner forever.
A Case for Belief
Perhaps there is an alternative path where, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward could start scoring again.
- The winger could transform into the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs are due to regain fitness, fortifying a periodically leaky 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
Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would sit in the top three for the holidays. And certainly earlier this season, nobody thought the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital Three Lions star.
This remarkable period must be cherished precisely because it appears so improbable. When the hero stood in front of the Villa faithful at the final whistle conducting the cheers, it was clear to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These runs of form do not happen often and should be relished.
