It was eight weeks in the past that Morgan Rogers found himself on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed as his coach berated him over not reading a penetrating pass. During that period, as Villa went six without a win, doubts remained whether his displays were an indicator or the reason of the side's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was entirely much more joyous. As Rogers curled home his brace-sealing goal to reinstate the lead for Villa, the Spanish tactician discarded his coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. The team continued to a 10th successive win and despite not winning any of their first six games, are somehow just three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Genuine Challengers?
It remains a rather hard query to address. The historical record, a general sense of Villa, argues against it. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding during this run, while the positive results have piled up.
Per the data, in only two games have Villa posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a team that have just won 10 in a row, Villa seem curiously susceptible – but right now the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Winning Formula
The current approach appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and wait for their star man to save the day with a couple of crisp finishes. This occurred at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again versus United.
His opener stemmed from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the post from the edge of the area. For his second proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he seized on a pass from Watkins.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opponents managed a greater number of attempts and more efforts on goal. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those matches.
A reversion to average could be the biggest rival the club have to face over the coming weeks. The forward, in all likelihood, cannot maintain thrashing his shots into the top corner indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Could it be another reality where, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures may yet rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins could start adding to his goal tally.
- The winger may rediscover the player he showed during his peak.
- The injured centre-backs are due to return from injury, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on one man.
Enjoying the Ride
However, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt earlier this season, no one envisioned the midfielder by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit and appearing as an essential Three Lions star.
This remarkable period must be cherished precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner positioned himself before the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be thoroughly enjoying it. As he deserves to. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and ought to be celebrated.
