A mere two months prior that Morgan Rogers was standing on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while Unai Emery scolded him for not reading a through-ball. During that period, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a symptom or a cause of the side's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, though, the touchline reaction was entirely much more joyous. After the in-form star swept in his brace-sealing goal to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his jacket, spread his arms and roared. Villa marched on to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win their opening six fixtures, now sit only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Title Contenders?
That’s a particularly tough proposition to resolve. History, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the victories have piled up.
According to the data, on just two occasions has the team had an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club which has strung together ten consecutive victories, the Villans appear curiously susceptible – yet currently the margins are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
The current approach seems to be to trade blows with an opponent before hoping their star man to save the day with some clinical strikes. It happened against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and once more versus the Red Devils.
His opener came from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the upright from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized 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. During the latest victory, the opponents had more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.
A reversion to average might be the most significant challenge the club have to face over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot maintain blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists another reality where, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Vital cogs could still rediscover their best form.
- The main striker could start finding the net regularly.
- The winger might become the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a periodically leaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed precisely because it feels so unlikely. When Rogers positioned himself before the North End after the match leading the celebrations, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
