Just eight weeks in the past that the Villa attacker stood on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while his coach berated him for not reading a through-ball. During that period, as Villa went six without a win, it wasn't clear if his displays were a sign or a cause of the team's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, however, the sideline response was far more favourable. As the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to restore Villa's lead, Emery tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa continued to a 10th successive win and having failed to win their opening six games, are somehow a mere three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?
That’s a rather hard question to answer. History, the perceived status of the club, argues against it. Additionally, their performances haven't been wholly dominant in many games, while the positive results have accumulated.
According to Opta, in only two games have Villa had an xG significantly higher than the opposition. For a club who have strung together ten consecutive victories, the Villans look weirdly vulnerable – but currently the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach appears to be to exchange chances with an opponent and wait for their star man to save the day with a couple of precise efforts. It happened at Leeds, it happened in London, and it happened when facing the Red Devils.
Rogers' first goal came from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the goal frame from a wide position. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
Is It Sustainable?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opposition managed a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all but one of those games.
Regression to the mean might be the greatest opponent Villa have to face as the season progresses. Their key man, surely, cannot maintain drilling the football into the top corner indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Perhaps there is another reality whereby, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he was in Germany.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, this was unforeseen. Few believed the team would sit in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely earlier this season, few could imagine the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while looking like a vital England player.
This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As Rogers positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle conducting the cheers, he appeared to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
