It was two months in the past that the Villa attacker was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as Unai Emery admonished him for missing a through-ball. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his displays were an indicator or the source for Villa's broader struggles.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the sideline response proved to be decidedly more positive. As the in-form star curled home his second to reinstate his side's advantage, Emery tore off his coat, opened his arms and roared. The team continued to a 10th successive win , having failed to win their opening six games, find themselves only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?
It remains a particularly tough question to answer. The historical record, the traditional standing of Villa, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, their performances haven't been entirely convincing in many games, despite the fact the wins have piled up.
Per the data, in only two games have Villa registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than the other team. For a club who have strung together a ten-match winning streak, Villa look strangely fragile – yet currently the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic appears to be to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on their talisman to save the day with some precise efforts. This occurred away to Leeds, it occurred in London, and once more versus Manchester United.
His opener originated from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the upright from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration of his first as he seized on a pass from Watkins.
“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 managed more shots and more efforts on goal. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.
A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge Villa will encounter as the season progresses. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on drilling the ball into the top corner indefinitely.
Potential for Growth
Maybe there exists a different scenario where, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Key players might still find their top level.
- The main striker could start adding to his goal tally.
- The winger may rediscover the force he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, strengthening a periodically leaky backline.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, this is a surprise. Few believed Aston Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely back in October, nobody thought the midfielder as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.
This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. As the match-winner stood in front of the home supporters after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These runs of form do not happen often and should be relished.
