It was 60 days prior when the Villa attacker was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, looking confused while his coach berated him over not reading a through-ball. Back then, with the team went six without a win, it wasn't clear whether his performances were a sign or a cause for the team's more general malaise.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
On Sunday, however, the manager's outburst proved to be decidedly more positive. As Rogers drilled in his second strike to reinstate Villa's lead, Emery tore off his jacket, threw his arms wide and roared. The team continued to ten wins in a row and after failing to win their initial half-dozen games, now sit a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Title Contenders?
That’s a rather hard proposition to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Additionally, they have not been completely commanding in many games, despite the fact the wins have piled up.
According to the data, in only two games has the side posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a club which has put together a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem curiously susceptible – but right now the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Winning Formula
The prevailing tactic appears to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and then rely on their talisman to save the day with two crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it happened in London, and once more when facing United.
His opener originated from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal proved to be a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.
“Perhaps Rogers’ right foot is becoming like Arjen Robben’s left: just because you know he’s going to whip the ball into the top corner doesn’t mean you can stop him.”
Can It Last?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents registered more efforts and more efforts on goal. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.
Regression to the mean could be the biggest rival the club have to face as the season progresses. Their key man, surely, will not continue to drilling the ball into the top corner indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists another reality whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players might still rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the force he was in Germany.
- The injured centre-backs are set to come back from the treatment room, strengthening a sometimes shaky backline.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a title charge while looking like a vital Three Lions star.
This winning streak should be enjoyed precisely because it seems so surreal. As the match-winner positioned himself before the home supporters after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
