It was 60 days prior that Morgan Rogers was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused as Unai Emery scolded him for not reading a through-ball. Back then, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained if his displays were a symptom or the reason of Villa's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, though, the manager's outburst proved to be decidedly more positive. When the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss tore off his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. Villa were on their way to ten wins in a row , despite not winning any of their first six fixtures, are somehow a mere three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Serious Hopefuls?
That’s a particularly tough proposition to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of this institution, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been completely commanding this season, despite the fact the positive results have accumulated.
According to the data, on just two occasions have Villa registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than the opposition. For a club which has just won ten consecutive victories, Villa seem curiously susceptible – yet at the moment the margins are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with rivals and wait for Rogers to bail them out with some crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and once more when facing Manchester United.
The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, arced just inside the upright from a wide position. The follow-up goal was essentially a slight scruffier version of the opener 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?
Common sense dictates no. In the recent win, Manchester United registered more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those matches.
A statistical correction may well be the greatest opponent the club have to face over the coming weeks. Rogers, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing the football past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists an alternative path where, instead of luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward could start scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho could transform into the performer he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
This could contain the potential of a genuine bid, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on one man.
Enjoying the Ride
However, this was unforeseen. Few believed Aston 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 leading a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital England player.
This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner stood in front of the Villa faithful when the game ended orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These spells are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
