Just 60 days prior that the young forward stood on the Sunderland turf, looking confused while Unai Emery berated him for failing to anticipate a penetrating pass. At that point, with the team went six without a win, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were an indicator or a cause of Villa's more general malaise.
“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 Rogers drilled in his second to reclaim Villa's lead, the boss discarded his winter coat, opened his arms and shouted in triumph. Villa were on their way to a 10th successive win and having failed to win their opening six games, find themselves only three points off pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Title Contenders?
It remains a particularly tough proposition to answer. History, the perceived status of the club, suggests not. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant this season, while the positive results have stacked up.
According to Opta, in only two games has the team posted an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team that have strung together a ten-match winning streak, the Villans seem weirdly vulnerable – however at the moment the margins are falling their way.
The Reliant Strategy
The prevailing tactic seems to be to engage in a shootout with the opposition before hoping their star man to bail them out with a couple of precise efforts. This occurred against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and again against United.
His opener originated from a superb shot, arced precisely inside the post from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he pounced 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.”
Can It Last?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents registered more shots and more efforts on goal. Villa have won each of their last eight by just one goal. They have allowed goals in all except one of those games.
A statistical correction might be the greatest opponent Villa have to face in the near future. The forward, surely, will not continue to drilling his shots into the top corner week in, week out.
Potential for Growth
Perhaps there is a different scenario where, rather than luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players may yet return to peak condition.
- The main striker might resume finding the net regularly.
- Jadon Sancho might become the player he resembled at Borussia Dortmund.
- The injured centre-backs will eventually return from injury, bolstering an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, but they surely can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, this is a surprise. It seemed improbable Villa would be in the top three for the holidays. And certainly back in October, few could imagine the young forward now would be spearheading a title charge while looking like an essential England player.
This remarkable period is to be savoured exactly since it seems so surreal. As the match-winner faced the home supporters when the game ended leading the celebrations, it was clear to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. These spells are rare in football and must be appreciated.
