It was 60 days prior that the young forward was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while his coach admonished him for not reading a through-ball. During that period, as the club went six without a win, doubts remained whether his performances were an indicator or the source of Villa's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, in contrast, the manager's outburst was decidedly more positive. After Rogers drilled in his second strike to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. The team continued to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win their initial half-dozen matches, are somehow a mere three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Are They Genuine Challengers?
That’s an exceptionally difficult question to answer. History, the traditional standing of this institution, indicates otherwise. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding during this run, even as the wins have stacked up.
Per statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa registered an expected goals figure more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club who have put together 10 in a row, the Villans appear strangely fragile – but right now the tight outcomes are going in their favour.
The Winning Formula
Their recent policy looks like to trade blows with rivals before hoping their star man to bail them out with two clinical strikes. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred in London, and once more versus Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal came from an exquisite effort, arced right inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized on a setup by his strike partner.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
Can It Last?
Logic says not. During the latest victory, Manchester United registered more shots and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by just one goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those games.
A statistical correction may well be the most significant challenge Villa must confront as the season progresses. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on thrashing his shots into the net's top corner week in, week out.
A Case for Belief
Maybe there exists another reality in which, rather than luck running out, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs may yet rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins could start finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho might become the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
However, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would be in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, nobody thought the young forward now would be at the forefront of a title charge and appearing as an essential Three Lions star.
This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it appears so improbable. When Rogers faced the North End after the match conducting the cheers, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. Such periods do not happen often and ought to be celebrated.
