A mere eight weeks in the past that Morgan Rogers found himself on the pitch at Sunderland, appearing bewildered while the Villa manager admonished him over not reading a through-ball. At that point, as Villa failed to win in six, it wasn't clear if Rogers' form were a sign or a cause for Villa's broader struggles.
“As Rogers swept in his second… Emery ripped off his thick padded coat, spread his arms and roared.”
On Sunday, in contrast, the touchline reaction proved to be far more favourable. When the in-form star drilled in his second to reclaim his side's advantage, the Spanish tactician tore off his coat, spread his arms and bellowed. The Birmingham club continued to a tenth straight victory , despite not winning any of their first six matches, now sit only three points off table-toppers Arsenal.
Is Aston Villa Serious Hopefuls?
That’s a particularly tough question to answer. The historical record, the traditional standing of this institution, indicates otherwise. Furthermore, they've rarely been entirely convincing during this run, despite the fact the positive results have stacked up.
As per the data, in only two games has the team had an xG more than 0.5 greater than their opponents. For a club who have just won a ten-match winning streak, they look curiously susceptible – however currently the fine lines are swinging for them.
The Reliant Strategy
Their recent policy appears to be to engage in a shootout with rivals and then rely on their star man to rescue them with some clinical strikes. This occurred against Leeds, it happened in London, and once more when facing Manchester United.
Rogers' first goal originated from a superb shot, curled right inside the upright from the edge of the area. His brace-completing goal acted as a slight scruffier version of the opener capitalizing on a pass from Watkins.
“Rogers’ right foot is now akin to Robben’s legendary left: forewarned does not mean forearmed, and stopping him is another matter entirely.”
How Long Can This Continue?
Reason suggests otherwise. Against United, Manchester United had more shots and more shots on target. The team has secured their last eight victories by the narrowest of margins. The defence has been breached in nearly all of those matches.
A reversion to average may well be the most significant challenge they will encounter in the near future. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot maintain blasting the football past despairing goalkeepers week in, week out.
Potential for Growth
Perhaps there is an alternative path whereby, rather than results trending towards performances, performances begin to trend towards results. Vital cogs could still find their top level.
- The main striker might resume scoring again.
- The attacking talent may rediscover the player he resembled during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres will eventually come back from the treatment room, strengthening a periodically leaky defensive unit.
This could contain the seeds for a sustained push, however, it is improbable cannot keep relying on a single individual.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, this is a surprise. Nobody thought the team would sit in the top three for the holidays. And most definitely back in October, no one envisioned the young forward by the end of the year would be at the forefront of a championship pursuit and appearing as a vital England player.
This remarkable period should be enjoyed for the very reason that it feels so unlikely. As the match-winner faced the home supporters after the match conducting the cheers, he seemed to be loving the experience. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are rare in football and ought to be celebrated.
