Just eight weeks prior that the young forward stood on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while his coach berated him over failing to anticipate a through-ball. Back then, with the team went six without a win, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a symptom or a cause for 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, in contrast, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. After the in-form star swept in his second to reinstate Villa's lead, the boss discarded his coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa continued to a tenth straight victory and having failed to win their opening six games, are somehow a mere three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Is This Team Legitimate Challengers?
This is an exceptionally difficult query to address. History, the perceived status of Villa, suggests not. Furthermore, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, while the positive results have stacked up.
Per the data, on just two occasions has the side posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a side who have just won a ten-match winning streak, Villa seem curiously susceptible – but right now the tight outcomes are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy appears to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent and then rely on their star man to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This occurred away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and it happened against the Red Devils.
The initial strike originated from an exquisite effort, bent just inside the goal frame from the corner of the box. For his second acted as a slight scruffier version of the opener as he pounced on a setup by his strike partner.
“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?
Logic says not. In the recent win, the opposition had more efforts and more shots on target. They have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. They’ve conceded in nearly all of those matches.
Regression to the mean might be the greatest opponent they must confront over the coming weeks. The forward, surely, cannot maintain drilling the football into the net's top corner indefinitely.
A Case for Belief
Perhaps there is another reality whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures may yet find their top level.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
- The winger may rediscover the force he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, strengthening a periodically leaky backline.
This could contain the potential for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Enjoying the Ride
Yet, nobody expected this. Few believed Villa would sit third at Christmas. And most definitely two months ago, no one envisioned Rogers as the year closed would be spearheading a title charge and appearing as an essential Three Lions star.
The current run must be cherished precisely because it seems so surreal. When Rogers faced the home supporters when the game ended conducting the cheers, it was clear to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
