A mere eight weeks prior when Morgan Rogers was standing on the Sunderland turf, seeming perplexed while his coach scolded him for missing a pass in behind. Back then, as the club endured a six-game winless run, doubts remained whether his displays were a sign or a cause for the team's broader struggles.
“When Rogers netted his second… Emery tore off his coat, threw his arms wide, and bellowed in delight.”
This weekend, however, the manager's outburst was entirely much more joyous. After the England international curled home his second to reinstate the lead for Villa, the boss discarded his coat, spread his arms and roared. The team continued to ten wins in a row and having failed to win their opening six fixtures, are somehow just three points off the leaders Arsenal.
Are They Legitimate Hopefuls?
It remains an exceptionally difficult query to address. The historical record, the traditional standing of the club, suggests not. Moreover, their performances haven't been completely commanding this season, while the victories have stacked up.
According to the data, twice all season has the side registered an expected goals figure significantly higher than the opposition. For a club which has strung together 10 in a row, they seem weirdly vulnerable – but currently the margins are falling their way.
The Rogers Recipe
Their recent policy appears to be to trade blows with an opponent before hoping their talisman to rescue them with some clinical strikes. This was the case against Leeds, it transpired at West Ham, and once more against United.
The initial strike stemmed from a superb shot, arced just inside the goal frame from a wide position. The follow-up goal acted as a slightly less clean iteration 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?
Logic says not. In the recent win, the opponents registered more efforts and more shots on target. The team has triumphed in eight consecutive games by the narrowest of margins. They have allowed goals in all except one of those matches.
A reversion to average might be the biggest rival they must confront as the season progresses. Their key man, almost certainly, cannot keep on drilling his shots into the top corner forever.
Potential for Growth
Maybe there exists another reality in which, rather than results trending towards performances, the level of play rises to match the results. Key players could still find their top level.
- The main striker may begin to scoring again.
- Jadon Sancho might become the player he was during his peak.
- Tyrone Mings and Pau Torres are due to return from injury, fortifying a sometimes shaky backline.
Maybe within that lies the possibility for a sustained push, however, it is improbable can continue to depend solely on Morgan Rogers.
Savoring the Moment
Yet, nobody expected this. It seemed improbable the team would sit in the top three for the holidays. And certainly back in October, nobody thought the young forward as the year closed would be spearheading a championship pursuit while looking like an essential England player.
This winning streak is to be savoured precisely because it feels so unlikely. When Rogers stood in front of the Villa faithful after the match orchestrating the applause, he appeared to be relishing every moment. A feeling he has rightly earned. Such periods are rare in football and must be appreciated.
