It was two months in the past that the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed while the Villa manager berated him for not reading a pass in behind. Back then, as Villa failed to win in six, doubts remained whether Rogers' form were a sign or the source of the side's wider issues.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, however, the sideline response was far more favourable. As the England international drilled in his second to restore his side's advantage, the boss discarded his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. Villa marched on to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win their opening six matches, now sit a mere three points behind the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?
This is a particularly tough question to resolve. Past precedent, a general sense of this institution, suggests not. Moreover, they have not been completely commanding during this run, even as the wins have piled up.
As per the data, in only two games have Villa had an expected goals figure notably superior than the other team. For a side that have just won 10 in a row, they look weirdly vulnerable – yet at the moment the fine lines are falling their way.
The Winning Formula
The prevailing tactic appears to be to trade blows with the opposition and wait for their star man to bail them out with two precise efforts. This occurred at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and again against Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal came from an exquisite effort, bent precisely inside the goal frame from a wide position. For his second proved to be a slight scruffier version of his first capitalizing on a setup by his strike partner.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United managed more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.
A statistical correction might be the most significant challenge they will encounter in the near future. Rogers, in all likelihood, cannot maintain drilling the ball into the top corner forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is another reality where, rather than luck running out, the level of play rises to match the results. Important figures might still return to peak condition.
- Ollie Watkins could start scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho might become the player he showed in Germany.
- The defensive duo are set to regain fitness, bolstering a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a genuine bid, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
But then, nobody expected this. Nobody thought the team would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt two months ago, few could imagine the young forward now would be leading a championship pursuit and appearing as a crucial Three Lions star.
This remarkable period is to be savoured exactly since it feels so unlikely. When Rogers faced the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. These runs of form are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
