A mere 60 days prior that the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered as Unai Emery berated him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. At that point, as Villa went six without a win, the question was if Rogers' form were a symptom or a cause of Villa's more general malaise.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
This weekend, though, the manager's outburst was much more joyous. As Rogers swept in his brace-sealing goal to restore the lead for Villa, the boss tore off his coat, spread his arms and roared. The team marched on to ten wins in a row , having failed to win their opening six games, find themselves a mere three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Challengers?
This is a particularly tough proposition to address. History, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, while the positive results have stacked up.
Per statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa had an expected goals figure significantly higher than the other team. For a side which has strung together 10 in a row, they look strangely fragile – yet currently the fine lines are falling their way.
The Winning Formula
The prevailing tactic seems to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on their star man to bail them out with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened against Leeds, it transpired against West Ham, and it happened against United.
Rogers' first goal originated from an exquisite effort, curled just inside the post from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of his first as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents registered a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. Villa have won each of their last eight by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all but one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average could be the greatest opponent the club will encounter as the season progresses. Their key man, in all likelihood, cannot keep on drilling his shots into the top corner forever.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists an alternative path whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures might still find their top level.
- The main striker may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the force he resembled during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to come back from the treatment room, fortifying a sometimes shaky defence.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned Rogers by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a title charge and appearing as an essential player for the national team.
The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it seems so surreal. When Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. These spells do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.
