It was eight weeks prior that Morgan Rogers was standing on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered as his coach berated him for missing a through-ball. Back then, with the team failed to win in six, doubts remained whether his displays were a sign or a cause for the side's broader struggles.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
In the latest match, though, the sideline response was decidedly more positive. When Rogers curled home his brace-sealing goal to restore his side's advantage, the boss discarded his coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory , after failing to win their initial half-dozen matches, now sit only three points behind table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Challengers?
This is a particularly tough proposition to answer. History, the traditional standing of this institution, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been entirely convincing during this run, while the victories have piled up.
According to the data, in only two games has the team posted an expected goals figure notably superior than the opposition. For a team which has just won ten consecutive victories, the Villans seem strangely fragile – but right now the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic seems to be to trade blows with rivals and then rely on their talisman to rescue them with a couple of crisp finishes. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and once more against the Red Devils.
The initial strike came from a brilliant finish, bent just inside the goal frame from a wide position. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents registered more efforts and more shots on target. The team has won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.
A reversion to average may well be the biggest rival Villa have to face in the near future. Their key man, surely, cannot keep on blasting his shots past despairing goalkeepers forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is another reality in which, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs could still rediscover their best form.
- The centre-forward could start finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho might become the player he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo will eventually return from injury, strengthening an occasionally vulnerable backline.
Perhaps there is in that the possibility for a sustained push, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Aston Villa would be third at Christmas. And most definitely earlier this season, few could imagine Rogers as the year closed would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like a vital Three Lions star.
This remarkable period is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. As the hero faced the North End at the final whistle leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods are rare in football and must be appreciated.
