It was 60 days ago that Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, looking confused while his coach berated him for not reading a through-ball. At that point, with the team failed to win in six, the question was if his performances were an indicator or the source for the side's more general malaise.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
In the latest match, in contrast, the manager's outburst proved to be much more joyous. After the England international drilled in his second strike to restore his side's advantage, Emery discarded his jacket, spread his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory and despite not winning their initial half-dozen fixtures, now sit a mere three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Challengers?
It remains a particularly tough question to answer. History, a general sense of the club, argues against it. Furthermore, they have not been wholly dominant during this run, despite the fact the victories have accumulated.
As per Opta, on just two occasions have Villa posted an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a club that have strung together ten consecutive victories, Villa look curiously susceptible – but at the moment the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
The current approach seems to be to engage in a shootout with an opponent before hoping their star man to rescue them with some clinical strikes. This occurred at Leeds, it happened at West Ham, and once more against the Red Devils.
His opener originated from a superb shot, curled precisely inside the post from the corner of the box. The follow-up goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of goal number one as he seized 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.”
Is It Sustainable?
Common sense dictates no. Against United, the opposition had more efforts and more shots on target. Villa have secured their last eight victories by just one goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.
A reversion to average might be the biggest rival they have to face in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, will not continue to thrashing the football past despairing goalkeepers forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be a different scenario whereby, instead of outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Vital cogs could still rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins might resume scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the performer he resembled in Germany.
- The defensive duo will eventually return from injury, fortifying an occasionally vulnerable defensive unit.
Perhaps there is in that the seeds for a sustained push, yet it seems unlikely can persist in leaning entirely on a single individual.
Relishing the Unlikely
But then, this is a surprise. Few believed Villa would be third at Christmas. And without a doubt back in October, nobody thought the midfielder by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a hunt for the title while establishing himself as an essential player for the national team.
This winning streak should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. When the hero faced the North End at the final whistle orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
