A mere eight weeks ago when Morgan Rogers found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while Unai Emery berated him over missing a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, the question was if his performances were an indicator or a cause for the team's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, in contrast, the touchline reaction was entirely far more favourable. After Rogers swept in his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician tore off his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. The team continued to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?
It remains a particularly tough proposition to resolve. The historical record, the traditional standing of Villa, argues against it. Moreover, they have not been wholly dominant this season, despite the fact the wins have stacked up.
According to Opta, on just two occasions has the side posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a club that have put together 10 in a row, the Villans look strangely fragile – but right now the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on their talisman to rescue them with some precise efforts. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and once more when facing Manchester United.
His opener came from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized 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. Against United, the opposition managed a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. Villa have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all but one of those games.
A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent they will encounter over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, cannot keep on drilling his shots into the net's top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists a different scenario in which, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet return to peak condition.
- The main striker may begin to scoring again.
- The winger might become the player he was during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought the team would be in a Champions League place in December. And certainly earlier this season, few could imagine Rogers now would be leading a championship pursuit while establishing himself as an essential Three Lions star.
The current run is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. When Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful when the game ended conducting the cheers, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These runs of form are rare in football and should be relished.
