It was eight weeks in the past that the Villa attacker found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while his coach scolded him for failing to anticipate a through-ball. During that period, as the club failed to win in six, doubts remained if his displays were an indicator or a cause of the team's wider issues.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. When the in-form star drilled in his second strike to restore his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician discarded his winter coat, opened his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club marched on to a 10th successive win , after failing to win their initial half-dozen matches, are somehow just three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?
It remains a particularly tough question to resolve. The historical record, a general sense of the club, suggests not. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, while the positive results have accumulated.
According to the data, on just two occasions has the team posted an xG significantly higher than their opponents. For a side which has put together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the fine lines are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition and wait for their talisman to rescue them with some precise efforts. It happened away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more when facing the Red Devils.
Rogers' first goal originated from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one 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. During the latest victory, the opposition registered a greater number of attempts and more shots on target. Villa have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those fixtures.
Regression to the mean may well be the greatest opponent Villa must confront in the near future. The forward, surely, cannot keep on thrashing the ball past despairing goalkeepers forever.
A Case for Belief
Perhaps there is a different scenario where, instead of luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs could still rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward might resume finding the net regularly.
- The winger may rediscover the player he resembled in Germany.
- The defensive duo will eventually come back from the treatment room, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable backline.
Maybe within that lies the potential for a sustained push, but they surely cannot keep relying on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
However, this was unforeseen. Few believed Aston Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, no one envisioned the young forward as the year closed would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.
The current run must be cherished for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters when the game ended conducting the cheers, he seemed to be relishing every moment. As he deserves to. These runs of form do not happen often and must be appreciated.
