A mere two months prior that the young forward was standing on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while Unai Emery berated him over missing a penetrating pass. Back then, with the team went six without a win, doubts remained if his displays were a symptom or the source for the team'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 touchline reaction was much more joyous. After the in-form star curled home his brace-sealing goal to reclaim the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his coat, spread his arms and roared. The Birmingham club continued to a 10th successive win , despite not winning any of their first six games, now sit a mere three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Title Contenders?
That’s a rather hard proposition to resolve. The historical record, the traditional standing of the club, suggests not. Moreover, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, while the wins have accumulated.
According to the data, on just two occasions have Villa posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a club that have put together 10 in a row, the Villans look strangely fragile – yet currently the margins are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to exchange chances with rivals and then rely on their star man to rescue them with a couple of precise efforts. This occurred away to Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more versus the Red Devils.
His opener came from a superb shot, curled just inside the goal frame from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal proved to be a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced on a pass from Watkins.
“Much like Robben with his left, Rogers’ right foot has become a known threat that remains brutally unstoppable, regardless of anticipation.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. During the latest victory, the opponents registered more efforts and more direct attempts. The team has secured their last eight victories by a single goal. The defence has been breached in all except one of those fixtures.
A reversion to average could be the biggest rival they will encounter as the season progresses. Rogers, almost certainly, cannot keep on blasting the ball into the top corner indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Perhaps there is another reality where, rather than results trending towards performances, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Important figures could still rediscover their best form.
- The main striker may begin to adding to his goal tally.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he was in Germany.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky defence.
Maybe within that lies the possibility of a genuine bid, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
Yet, this was unforeseen. Few believed Villa would sit in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt earlier this season, nobody thought the young forward now would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while looking like a vital England player.
This winning streak must be cherished exactly since it feels so unlikely. As the hero stood in front of the North End when the game ended leading the celebrations, he appeared to be relishing every moment. Which he fully merits. These runs of form do not happen often and should be relished.
