It was 60 days in the past when Morgan Rogers found himself on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as Unai Emery berated him for missing a through-ball. At that point, with the team went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether his performances were a sign or the reason for Villa's more general malaise.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
In the latest match, though, the touchline reaction proved to be much more joyous. After Rogers swept in his second to restore his side's advantage, Emery ripped off his coat, spread his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their opening six fixtures, now sit a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?
That’s an exceptionally difficult query to answer. The historical record, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Additionally, they have not been completely commanding this season, even as the wins have accumulated.
According to Opta, on just two occasions have Villa posted an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a side who have put together a ten-match winning streak, Villa look strangely fragile – yet currently the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on Rogers to bail them out with some crisp finishes. This was the case against Leeds, it occurred in London, and once more versus United.
His opener stemmed from a brilliant finish, curled just inside the post from a wide position. For his second acted as a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he pounced on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“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. Against United, Manchester United had more shots and more direct attempts. They have secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. They’ve conceded in all but one of those matches.
A statistical correction could be the biggest rival Villa will encounter over the coming weeks. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Could it be an alternative path in which, instead of luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players might still return to peak condition.
- The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he showed at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defence.
This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
But then, this was unforeseen. Nobody thought Aston Villa would occupy in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, few could imagine Rogers by the end of the year would be spearheading a title charge while looking like a vital England player.
The current run is to be savoured for the very reason that it appears so improbable. As Rogers positioned himself before the Villa faithful when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
