A mere 60 days in the past that the young forward found himself on the Stadium of Light pitch, appearing bewildered while his coach berated him over failing to anticipate a pass in behind. At that point, as Villa endured a six-game winless run, the question was if his displays were a symptom or the reason of the side's wider issues.
“Following Rogers' second strike… Emery discarded his jacket, extended his arms, and let out a triumphant roar.”
This weekend, in contrast, the manager's outburst was entirely much more joyous. After Rogers curled home his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, Emery ripped off his coat, threw his arms wide and shouted in triumph. Villa marched on to a 10th successive win , having failed to win any of their first six matches, now sit only three points behind pace-setters Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Legitimate Hopefuls?
It remains a particularly tough query to address. Past precedent, the traditional standing of Villa, indicates otherwise. Additionally, they've rarely been wholly dominant this season, despite the fact the wins have accumulated.
According to statistical analysis, twice all season have Villa had an expected goals figure notably superior than their opponents. For a team which has put together ten consecutive victories, the Villans appear strangely fragile – but currently the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy seems to be to exchange chances with rivals before hoping their talisman to bail them out with some clinical strikes. It happened away to Leeds, it occurred against West Ham, and again against United.
The initial strike came from a superb shot, bent just inside the upright from the edge of the area. The follow-up goal was essentially a somewhat messier replica of the opener as he seized 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.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. In the recent win, the opponents managed more efforts and more efforts on goal. They have won each of their last eight by a single goal. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those games.
A statistical correction may well be the biggest rival they have to face over the coming weeks. Their key man, surely, will not continue to thrashing the ball past despairing goalkeepers forever.
Reasons for Optimism
Maybe there exists another reality whereby, rather than outcomes regressing to match displays, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players might still rediscover their best form.
- Ollie Watkins may begin to scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho may rediscover the player he was at Borussia Dortmund.
- The defensive duo are due to come back from the treatment room, bolstering a periodically leaky defence.
This could contain the possibility of a genuine bid, but they surely can persist in leaning entirely on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
But then, this is a surprise. Few believed the team would sit third at Christmas. And without a doubt two months ago, no one envisioned the midfielder now would be spearheading a title charge while establishing himself as a vital player for the national team.
This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it appears so improbable. When Rogers positioned himself before the home supporters when the game ended orchestrating the applause, it was clear to be loving the experience. As he deserves to. Such periods do not happen often and must be appreciated.
