It was 60 days prior that Morgan Rogers was standing on the Sunderland turf, appearing bewildered as his coach berated him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. During that period, as Villa went six without a win, doubts remained whether his displays were a sign or the reason for Villa's wider issues.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
In the latest match, though, the manager's outburst was entirely far more favourable. As the England international swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate Villa's lead, Emery tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The Birmingham club continued to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, are somehow only three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?
That’s a particularly tough proposition to answer. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the victories have accumulated.
According to statistical analysis, on just two occasions has the team posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than their opponents. For a team which has just won a ten-match winning streak, Villa look strangely fragile – but right now the tight outcomes are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for their star man to rescue them with some crisp finishes. This was the case at Leeds, it occurred at West Ham, and it happened when facing United.
Rogers' first goal came from a superb shot, bent right inside the upright from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slight scruffier version 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, Manchester United had more shots and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all but one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average may well be the greatest opponent the club must confront over the coming weeks. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain blasting the football into the top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is another reality where, instead of luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players may yet return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- The winger may rediscover the player he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs are set to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a sometimes shaky defence.
This could contain the seeds of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Enjoying the Ride
However, this is a surprise. Nobody thought Villa would sit third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge and appearing as a vital England player.
This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it seems so surreal. When the match-winner stood in front of the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and should be relished.
