It was two months in the past when Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while Unai Emery admonished him over missing a through-ball. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, doubts remained if Rogers' form were a sign or the source for the side's wider issues.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
This weekend, however, the touchline reaction was much more joyous. As the in-form star curled home his second strike to restore the lead for Villa, the boss ripped off his winter coat, threw his arms wide and bellowed. The Birmingham club were on their way to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning their opening six games, find themselves only three points adrift of table-toppers Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Title Contenders?
This is an exceptionally difficult question to answer. History, the perceived status of this institution, argues against it. Moreover, they've rarely been completely commanding in many games, even as the victories have stacked up.
According to Opta, in only two games have Villa registered an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a team who have just won 10 in a row, they appear weirdly vulnerable – but at the moment the margins are going in their favour.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with the opposition and then rely on their star man to rescue them with two clinical strikes. This occurred at Leeds, it happened against West Ham, and once more when facing the Red Devils.
His opener stemmed from a superb shot, arced precisely inside the goal frame from a wide position. The follow-up goal was essentially a slightly less clean iteration of the opener as he seized 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.”
Can It Last?
Reason suggests otherwise. During the latest victory, the opponents registered more efforts and more shots on target. Villa have triumphed in eight consecutive games by a single goal. They have allowed goals in nearly all of those fixtures.
A reversion to average could be the biggest rival Villa must confront as the season progresses. Their key man, surely, cannot maintain drilling his shots past despairing goalkeepers indefinitely.
Reasons for Optimism
Could it be another reality in which, instead of luck running out, the team's displays improve to justify the wins. Key players may yet rediscover their best form.
- The main striker could start adding to his goal tally.
- The winger could transform into the performer he showed during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to regain fitness, fortifying a sometimes shaky defensive unit.
Maybe within that lies the seeds of a title challenge, yet it seems unlikely can continue to depend solely on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, nobody expected this. Nobody thought Villa would occupy in a Champions League place in December. And without a doubt back in October, few could imagine the midfielder by the end of the year would be spearheading a hunt for the title while looking like a vital player for the national team.
This remarkable period must be cherished precisely because it feels so unlikely. When Rogers faced the Villa faithful when the game ended leading the celebrations, he seemed to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods are uncommon in the sport and should be relished.
