A mere two months prior that Morgan Rogers stood on the Stadium of Light pitch, seeming perplexed as his coach berated him for not reading a penetrating pass. At that point, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained if his displays 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.”
In the latest match, though, the sideline response was decidedly more positive. After the England international curled home his second to reinstate his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his jacket, opened his arms and roared. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory and after failing to win their opening six fixtures, now sit just three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Is This Team Genuine Challengers?
This is a particularly tough question to address. History, the perceived status of the club, indicates otherwise. Additionally, their performances haven't been completely commanding in many games, while the victories have accumulated.
As per Opta, on just two occasions has the side posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a club that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, they look weirdly vulnerable – yet right now the margins are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy seems to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and wait for their star man to save the day with two clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and once more when facing the Red Devils.
The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, bent precisely inside the upright from the corner of the box. His brace-completing goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of goal number one as he seized on an Ollie Watkins lay-off.
“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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, Manchester United registered a greater number of attempts and more direct attempts. Villa have won each of their last eight by a single goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those matches.
A statistical correction might be the biggest rival the club must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, almost certainly, will not continue to blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists a different scenario whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs might still return to peak condition.
- The main striker may begin to finding the net regularly.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the player he was during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are set to regain fitness, bolstering a periodically leaky defence.
Perhaps there is in that the potential for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely cannot keep relying on one man.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed Aston Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And certainly two months ago, no one envisioned Rogers as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as a vital Three Lions star.
This winning streak is to be savoured for the very reason that it seems so surreal. As Rogers positioned himself before the North End after the match leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. Which he fully merits. Such periods are rare in football and should be relished.
